Southwest to Add New Routes from Portland and San Diego

In its new schedule extension through June 2014, Southwest Airlines is adding new routes from Portland in Oregon and San Diego, and is increasing its services in existing markets from New York LaGuardia.

Following the recent slot re-allocation at New York LaGuardia as a condition of American Airlines’ merger with US Airways, Southwest Airlines is increasing its non-stop services linking LaGuardia and Nashville, Houston Hobby, Chicago Midway and Akron-Canton in Ohio.

While the Boeing 737-700 is the mainstay of the Southwest Airlines fleet – the carrier and its subsidiary AirTran Airways operating and holding orders and other purchase rights for around 500 – Southwest also operates many Boeing 737-300s and 737-500s. Southwest also has more than 100 Boeing 737-800s in service and on order, as well as a total of 200 737 MAX 7s and 737 MAX 8s on order

The carrier is adding the extra New York LaGuardia flights from May 11.

Southwest Airlines is also launching new non-stop service from San Diego to Orlando; New Orleans; Portland, Oregon; and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The new flights come as Southwest nears its 32nd anniversary of serving San Diego International Airport.

The airline will also offer new non-stop services from Portland International Airport. In addition to its two daily non-stop flights to San Diego, Southwest will offer daily service to Baltimore/Washington International Airport, Chicago Midway and Houston Hobby.

As Southwest moves toward its final phase of integrating AirTran Airways, new Southwest non-stop service at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport includes services to Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh.

Southwest Airlines has quite a number of specially themed and painted aircraft in its fleet. This one is ‘California One’, painted to honor the state of California

Southwest is offering promotional introductory fares on various new and existing routes.

One-way, non-stop fares from $89 are available between Milwaukee and Washington Reagan National Airport; Boston Logan and Akron-Canton; and San Diego and Portland and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Southwest is offering one-way non-stops from $99 between New York LaGuardia and Akron-Canton; and $109 between Atlanta and both Detroit and Pittsburgh.

The carrier is offering one-way non-stops from $129 between Atlanta and Minneapolis/St. Paul; $139 between Akron-Canton and Orlando; and $149 between San Diego and both Orlando and New Orleans.

Southwest Airlines has painted quite a few aircraft in its all-Boeing 737 fleet in special themed liveries. This 737-700 is painted in the state colors of Maryland and Southwest calls it ‘Maryland One’ to commemorate its strong presence at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, the busiest commercial airport in the state

These promotional fares are available only on www.southwest.com or swabiz.com and can be purchased through December 20 at 11:59 pm for the respective time zone of the originating city.

The promotional fares are valid for travel from June 8 through June 30. However, promotional fares to New Orleans are valid for travel from April 8 through May 31.  Blackout dates for New Orleans include April 24 through May 5, May 22, May 24, and May 26, 2014.

Travel under the promotional fares is valid every day except for Fridays and Sundays.