Carrier extends flight schedule systemwide through early January 2016 and offers ten new international routes including a new, second destination in Costa Rica, as well as new flights connecting U.S. cities from coast to coast.
DALLAS – Southwest Airlines extended its bookable flight schedule through Jan. 4, 2016, offering new international service between eight cities and Houston (Hobby) by the end of this year, including the carrier’s 97th destination, Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport at Liberia in the Guanacaste beach and resort region of northwest Costa Rica, subject to foreign government approval.
Southwest Employees, Customers, and Houstonians celebrated the new flights with Houston Mayor Annise Parker and other city leaders at a beach bash Wednesday afternoon in downtown Houston at City Hall Plaza.
“Houstonians have endured some of the highest international airfares in the country,” said Gary Kelly, Southwest’s Chairman, President, & CEO, to a crowd assembled at a pop-up beach party featuring international food and music. “Southwest is putting our promise, our People, and our planes on these routes because you deserve lower fares and better service.”
During the upcoming summer travel season, Southwest will offer up to 159 departures a day from Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport serving 45 destinations nonstop while contractors, designers, and workers enter the homestretch of constructing a $156 million, five-gate international terminal complex, along with associated City of Houston projects for new parking and roadway improvements.
Other International Flights
Also pending the approval of the Mexican government, new once-daily service between Denver and Puerto Vallarta begins Nov. 1, 2015, for as low as $149 one-way at Southwest.com. Purchase fares now through May 24, 11:59 p.m. in the respective time zone of the originating city. Travel Oct. 15, 2015, through Dec. 16, 2015. Blackout dates apply: fare to Puerto Vallarta is not available Nov. 20-22, 2015; fare from Puerto Vallarta is not available Nov. 27-30, 2015. Restrictions and exclusions apply. Seats and valid travel days are limited. See additional and complete fare rules below.
Daily service between Orange County/Santa Ana and both Mexican resort areas of Puerto Vallarta and San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos will be augmented by a second, seasonal trip on Saturdays beginning Nov. 7. The same day, Southwest also begins Saturday-only service between Baltimore/Washington and Liberia, Costa Rica, subject to foreign governmental approval.
New Domestic Flights
The flight schedule extension beginning Nov. 1, 2015, includes recurrent and new seasonal flying as well as new, twice daily service between Indianapolis and New York LaGuardia, daily service between Denver and Cleveland, and new flights between Austin and both Seattle/Tacoma and Boston (Logan). New service between Akron/Canton and Las Vegas begins daily operation on Nov. 15, 2015, and on Nov. 22, 2015, Southwest will begin daily flights between Orange County/Santa Ana and both St. Louis and Kansas City.
Houston (Hobby) International Terminal Project
In early 2012, Southwest Airlines approached the City of Houston seeking permission to look into the construction of a five-gate international facility at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) to offer near-international service. Mayor Annise Parker later offered her support to bring the proposal before the full Houston City Council, which voted to authorize construction of the $156 million facility. The carrier announced its intention to serve an initial complement of international destinations from Houston (Hobby) in December 2014, and on Mar. 7, 2015, the carrier launched seasonal international service on Saturdays between Aruba and Houston (Hobby).
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She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
