Executives at Southwest Airlines like to joke that they run a California airline, based in Texas.
For good reason. The Dallas-based carrier flies more passengers in and out of California each year than any other airline, thanks primarily to a dominance in midsize cities including Burbank, San Diego, Oakland and San Jose.
“We have never fallen out of love with California,” said Andrew Watterson, Southwest’s vice president of network and revenue.
But there is a new suitor for California fliers.
The parent company of Alaska Airlines is rushing forward with a $2.6-billion deal to acquire Virgin America in hopes of becoming the predominant airline of the Golden State — and the entire West Coast.
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