Southwest Adds Routes, Extends Flight Schedule

Image: A group of Southwest airliners. (photo courtesy of Southwest Airlines)

by Donald Wood
Last updated: 8:00 AM ET, Fri February 16, 2018

Southwest Airlines announced Thursday it would be adding new routes and extending its bookable flight schedule through October 1.

Officials from Southwest revealed the carrier will be adding five departures a day Monday through Friday and three departures a day on Saturdays and Sundays between Nashville and Atlanta beginning August 7.

The airline also announced a new daily, nonstop route between Los Angeles and Tampa beginning August 7. Southwest is also adding another daily flight between Los Angeles and New Orleans, as well as between Los Angeles and Portland.

"This new route answers business community requests in both Nashville and Atlanta and we look forward to showing how our low fares, no change fees, and hospitality will resonate and make travel easier between these two growing cities," Southwest vice president Trevor Stedke said in a statement. "The routes offered with the schedule extension through the third quarter of 2018 reinforce our long-standing commitment to connect people and communities to what's important to them with friendly, reliable, low-cost air travel."

Travelers flying between Cincinnati and Denver, as well as St. Louis and Hartford, will have additional options starting August 7. The carrier will also add daily nonstop service between Kansas City and Raleigh-Durham beginning April 8.

Southwest also announced plans to add service in 2018 to Paine Field in Everett, Washington, as well as Hawaii. The airline still needs to receive governmental approvals.

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