United Flights From Tulsa Int'l Airport to San Antonio Off to Good Start

With the service officially kicked off, Tulsa airport officials say they feel confident about the future demand for United Airlines' new nonstop flights between Tulsa and San Antonio.

Twenty passengers were scheduled to take the inaugural flight last Friday to San Antonio from Tulsa International Airport. The first contingent from San Antonio arrived in Tulsa after 4 p.m. the same day.

Both inbound and outbound passengers in Tulsa were greeted with a festive reception and refreshments.

John Lucht, general manager of United's operations in Tulsa, said the flights are oversold for four or five days around the week of spring break, a big period for leisure travel to warm-weather states. Overall, he said, bookings for the flights are close to projections.

"We're pretty much right on target. We didn't set our expectations too high, especially for the first month," Lucht said. "We have positive feelings about the booking, especially given that it's spring break. We feel the word's out there, and we think that's a positive sign."

A lot is at stake with the new service. Airport officials have purchased banners, radio and magazine ads, billboard space, and planned special receptions to drum up interest and show United and other major airlines Tulsa can be a profitable nonstop route.

United is providing two flights a day between Tulsa and San Antonio on 50-seat regional jets. There will be two flights per day Monday through Friday, and one flight on Sunday evening. There are no flights planned on Saturday, which is traditionally a slow travel day.

Airline passengers in Oklahoma wishing to go to San Antonio have been forced to grab connecting flights with a hub served by Southwest, American, Continental or United.

United officials have said the Tulsa-San Antonio route is primarily served by American, Continental and Southwest, but United wants a piece of the action.

San Antonio is a city teeming with new business and leisure destinations. About 60 percent of Tulsa International's passengers are business-oriented, and 40 percent seek leisure destinations. Smith expects that ratio to hold true for the new service.

There hasn't been nonstop service between Tulsa and San Antonio for 15 or 20 years.

Mary Smith, spokeswoman for Tulsa International, said Friday that she hadn't seen numbers from United, but she was cautiously optimistic the service will build over the next few months.

"We think, as the words gets out, that it will do well. With two flights a day, we think it will do real well," Smith said.

News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.