Southwest Airlines will eliminate four daily departures in Denver this summer as it trims capacity nationwide.

The discount giant will trim one daily departure from Denver to Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Salt Lake City starting June 28.

The move is tied to Southwest's announcement last month that it will reduce its overall capacity by 4 percent this year to offset falling demand. The Dallas-based carrier also axed three departures here last month as part of a previously announced cut.

It's a marked difference from the past three years, when Southwest grew to become the third-largest carrier in Denver. The airline went through its biggest growth spurt last year, doubling its presence with nearly 60 new flights.

But times have changed for the airline industry and for Southwest. Most carriers have cut or are now scaling back flights as the economic picture darkens. United Airlines - Denver's largest carrier - eliminated dozens of flights here last year and is reducing its overall capacity by 8 percent. Homegrown Frontier Airlines, No. 2 in Denver behind United, slashed more than 15 percent of its seats last year and is reorganizing in bankruptcy protection.

The flight cuts dragged down DIA's seat capacity by more than 2 percent in 2008.

Despite Southwest's upcoming cuts, though, the carrier still says Denver is one of its focus cities. It's conceivable that the company could even add flights this year by moving planes off weaker routes elsewhere.

"I wouldn't read too much into the reductions and what that may mean for Denver in the future," said Southwest spokesman Chris Mainz. "This is just a continuing effort that we have to optimize our schedule."

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