Southwest Launches First International Service

Southwest Airlines spread its wings to the islands on July 1 with the launch of service to Aruba; Nassau, Bahamas; and Montego Bay, Jamaica, from Atlanta, Baltimore and Orlando.

It is Southwest’s first international service. The carrier took over operation of the routes from its AirTran subsidiary. Southwest is phasing out AirTran’s operations; its last flight is scheduled for Dec. 28.

Still to come is Southwest’s daily service to Cancun from San Antonio, Austin, Chicago Midway and Orange Country, Calif. on Nov. 2.

On the same date, Southwest will add flights to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, from Atlanta, Baltimore and Chicago Midway as well as a daily flight between Chicago Midway and Montego Bay.

During a Caribbean-themed celebration and news conference at Baltimore-Washington Airport before the Aruba departure, Teresa Laraba, senior vice president of customers, said, "We've grown through four decades of profitable service to carry more domestic air travelers every day than any other airline, and this next chapter plants a flag … in foreign sand."

Source: Travel Weekly