Baltimore-Washington International Faces Carrier Exodus as Six Airlines Depart in 18 Months
BWI’s airline portfolio shrinks despite Southwest’s dominant presence, raising questions about the airport’s competitive positioning
Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) has experienced a significant reduction in carrier diversity, with six airlines either ending service or announcing their departure since April 2023. This airline exodus comes despite Southwest Airlines’ continued dominance at the Maryland gateway, where the carrier now accounts for 74% of aircraft movements as of 2024.
The Departing Carriers
Air Canada Express represented the most substantial loss, ending a 21-year service history that began in 2003. The carrier’s Baltimore operations utilized various aircraft types over the years, including the Dash 8-100, Dash 8-300, CRJ100/200, CRJ900, and Embraer E175. In its final months of operation between January and April 2024, Jazz Aviation operated daily CRJ900 flights with 76-seat capacity.
The Toronto-Baltimore route featured a challenging schedule for business travelers, with arrivals at 20:15 and departures at 10:10 the following day. While this timing hindered business connectivity, it potentially offered better onward connections within Air Canada’s network. BWI now lacks any direct service to Toronto, Canada’s largest city.
Allegiant Air consolidated its operations by shifting five Baltimore routes to Washington Dulles International Airport. The affected destinations include Asheville, Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Punta Gorda, Sarasota, and Savannah. This strategic move likely reflects Allegiant’s assessment that Dulles offers reduced indirect competition and higher fare potential, despite increased airport fees and charges.
Contour Airlines also migrated to Dulles, transferring its Macon, Georgia service while simultaneously launching new flights to Plattsburgh, New York, as part of its network restructuring.
PLAY, the Icelandic low-cost carrier, represents another significant departure as the airline prepares to end all US operations later in 2024, not just Baltimore service.
Southwest’s Growing Dominance
While other carriers departed, Southwest Airlines strengthened its BWI presence, recently launching six transcontinental routes in a single day. The airline’s expansion has solidified BWI as its fourth-busiest airport by aircraft movements within Southwest’s entire network as of June 2024.
Southwest’s market share increase from 73% to 74% of BWI’s total movements reflects both its growth and the reduction in competitor activity. Despite the percentage appearing modest, the absolute scale of Southwest’s operations means this represents significant additional activity at the airport.
Positive Developments Amid Challenges
Not all carrier movement at BWI has been negative. BermudAir inaugurated Bermuda-Baltimore service in March 2024, marking the first time this route had been operated since AirTran discontinued it in 2013. The US Department of Transportation data confirms this route restoration represents a genuine service gap closure.
The Bermuda connection also provides BWI with a unique competitive advantage, as Washington Dulles has lacked Bermuda service since United Airlines ended flights in 2006. Virginia airports had no Bermuda connectivity until BermudAir launched Richmond service in June 2025.
Two additional carriers joined BWI’s airline portfolio during 2023-2024, though their identity and route details were not specified in available information.
Market Dynamics and Implications
The carrier departures reflect broader industry consolidation trends and strategic network optimization. Airlines increasingly focus resources on airports where they can achieve operational efficiency and market premium pricing. BWI’s position between Washington Dulles and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport creates unique competitive pressures.
For Southwest Airlines, the reduced competition enhances its already dominant position at BWI while potentially allowing for route expansion and schedule optimization. However, reduced carrier diversity may limit passenger choice and potentially impact the airport’s long-term competitiveness.
Regional Airport Competition
The migration of Allegiant and Contour to Dulles highlights the ongoing competition between Washington-area airports. Each facility offers different advantages: BWI’s Southwest hub status, Dulles’s international connectivity, and Reagan National’s downtown proximity.
Airport authorities at BWI will likely focus on attracting replacement carriers to restore route diversity and maintain competitive balance against Southwest’s dominance. The successful addition of BermudAir demonstrates that opportunities exist for carriers willing to serve underutilized markets from the Maryland gateway.
