Southwest Airlines said yesterday that it will cut 196 daily flights while adding just six when it launches its winter schedule on Jan. 11, a more than 5% reduction from its current schedule.

The carrier cited traditionally lower demand and poor weather during winter months as well as a slow economy and high fuel costs. It said some flights potentially could be added back to the schedule in the spring.

Three routes will be dropped: Phoenix-Birmingham, Nashville-Oakland and Nashville-Seattle. The rest of the cuts will result from lowering frequencies. SWA will operate 22 fewer daily departures from Chicago Midway, 13 fewer from Baltimore, 12 fewer from Las Vegas and 10 fewer from both Phoenix and Nashville.

Chairman, President and CEO Gary Kelly said last month that the LCC, which has remained profitable this year in contrast to its competitors, was taking a "cautious" approach to growth. "We're already in a mode where we're essentially not growing [for the remainder of the year] and it's not hard to believe that will continue through 2009," he told analysts. "We're not real bullish about adding flights at all" (ATWOnline, July 25).

Separately, Southwest promoted Senior Director-Strategic Planning Dept. Kathleen Wayton to VP-strategy and change leadership.