Southwest Lands in Knoxville: Inside the Decision to Join TYS
From The Runway Up: An Airport and Aviation PodcastShow Notes
Episode Summary
In this milestone episode of From the Runway Up, Becky and Caitlin sit down with Adam DeCaire, Senior Vice President of Network Planning & Network Operations Control at Southwest Airlines, for a long-awaited conversation that East Tennessee travelers have been hoping for: Why Southwest Airlines chose Knoxville.
Adam reveals why Southwest chose Knoxville, what the airline looks for when entering a new market, and how Knoxville fits into Southwest’s broader network strategy. From aircraft selection to connection opportunities to the Southwest customer experience, this is the insider conversation Knoxville has been waiting for.
Topics Covered
The decades-long effort to recruit Southwest Airlines to Knoxville
Adam’s personal career story: from throwing bags in Cleveland to leading network planning
How airlines evaluate new markets and why Knoxville’s timing finally aligned
The importance of UT, tourism, and regional demand in the decision
The Southwest aircraft fleet—no regional jets, only Boeing 737s
The “Southwest experience,” empowered employees, and customer-first culture
What success looks like for the airline and the community
Connect & Stay Updated
Book flights at Southwest.com
Previous Episode about bringing carriers to TYS: In The Winner’s Circle: Air Service at TYS.
The post Southwest Lands in Knoxville: Inside the Decision to Join TYS appeared first on From the Runway Up.
More from From The Runway Up: An Airport and Aviation Podcast
Drones are changing the way industries work—and airports are no exception. In this episode of From the Runway Up, Becky and Caitlin talk with Katie Ryan, an airside operations specialist at the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, about the rapidly evolving world of unmanned aircraft.
In this episode of From the Runway Up, Becky and Caitlin sit down with Matt Bergwall, Executive Director of the Vision Jet product line at Cirrus Aircraft, to explore why Cirrus has become one of the biggest innovators in personal aviation. The conversation highlights the company's focus on safety, technology, pilot training, and why Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport serves as the headquarters for Cirrus' customer delivery, training, and service operations.
Join us in this episode as we explore the beauty, history, and community importance of the most visited national park in America—the Great Smoky Mountains. Dana Soehn, president and CEO of Friends of the Smokies, shares insights on the park’s history, visitor experience, and how support from individuals makes a difference.
What happens when a major ultra-low-cost airline shuts down? In this episode of The Runway Up, the team sits down with aviation industry analyst Bill Swelbar and Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority Vice President of Air Service & Marketing Jim Evans to unpack the closure of Spirit Airlines and what it means for travelers, airports, and the future of affordable air travel.
In this heartwarming episode of From the Runway Up, Becky and Caitlin explore the powerful intersection of aviation and animal rescue with Michael Schneider, founder of Pilots to the Rescue.