Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today extended its published flight schedule—from Oct. 31, 2020, through Jan. 4, 2021—bringing travelers in key Southwest cities additional flights and new routes during a period that includes additional leisure travel for the autumn and winter holidays.
"We're rounding out our plan for this unprecedented year with our business travelers in mind with a fourth quarter schedule that brings them new routes across the country. We're also offering more flights for all of our Customers in places such as Denver, Las Vegas, Nashville, and Phoenix," said Andrew Watterson, Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer. "We anticipate business travelers will hit the road with a heightened focus on costs, so we're pairing unmatched schedules with our value and Hospitality to welcome them back, whenever they're ready to travel."
Southwest is making it easier for business travelers to get moving when they're ready. Earlier this month, Southwest started taking new business travel bookings via Travelport's Apollo and Worldpsan Global Distribution Systems (GDS) with industry-standard processes and settling by Airlines Reporting Corporation. By partnering with Travelport to bring Southwest's business- relevant content to the GDS, travel decision managers can book, modify, and manage their organization's travel at their fingertips.
New for the Fall and Winter
As Southwest looks toward the end of 2020, the carrier is adding a more robust schedule for business travelers with more frequencies and more nonstop flight options from Phoenix, Denver, Las Vegas, and Nashville.
"Never before has Southwest been more primed to emerge as the preferred choice of corporate travel as the business climate across America begins its recovery," Watterson added.
More Reach from Long Beach
Effective Nov. 1, 2020, Southwest will add roundtrip service nonstop between Long Beach and Phoenix three times daily, as well as once daily nonstop service between Long Beach and Austin.
Music City to Orange County
Effective Nov. 2, 2020, Southwest will add new nonstop service once a day (except Sundays) between Nashville and Orange County/Santa Ana, Calif.
The carrier also will offer nonstop service between Ontario, Calif. and Houston (Hobby) once a day (except Saturdays), beginning Nov. 1, 2020.
New Routes for Atlanta and Denver Customers
Effective Dec. 17, 2020, Southwest will add several new nonstop links between cities across the nation:
- Phoenix and Memphis, Tenn. – Once daily
- Denver and Birmingham, Ala. – Once daily
- Denver and Wichita, Kan. – Once daily
- Denver and Little Rock, Ark. – Once daily
- Atlanta and Oklahoma City – Three roundtrips daily, reestablishing nonstop service previously offered in 2016
- Atlanta and Omaha, Neb. – Three roundtrips daily
- Atlanta and Louisville, Ky. – Three roundtrips daily, reestablishing nonstop service previously offered in 2014
International Schedule Update
Southwest continues to monitor conditions in 14 international destinations on the carrier's network map and update operational plans. The carrier currently plans to resume service to Mexico and the Caribbean via Cancun, San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos, Havana, Montego Bay, and Nassau on July 1, 2020, subject to change. Service to the carrier's other international destinations will resume pending the easing of government restrictions.
These flights, as well as the carrier's full schedule, are now available for purchase on Southwest.com.
Steamboat Springs Update
Southwest continues working to publish schedule details for the carrier's intended service for Steamboat Springs, Colo., through Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN).