More on Southwest Service

Southwest’s corporate blog had this to say:

The biggest news of the day is that Southwest intends to begin service at the brand-new International Airport being built near Panama City, Florida next May.  We’re bringing low fares and GREAT service to the land of sugar-white-sand beaches, incredibly gentle blue waters, and an amazing variety of visitor accomodations just in time for vacation season, Summer, 2010!  Up until Southwest’s arrival, this part of Northwest Florida has been plagued by high fares and a lack of full-sized airline service.  We’re going to change that.  Southwest’s entry into the Panama City market will make it possible for all of America to experience the incredible beauty of Northwest Florida!

And the Panama City News Herald reported:

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly officially announced Wednesday the low-cost carrier will begin service to the new Northwest Florida-Panama City International Airport when it opens in May. Tickets will go on sale in December.

And:

“We have been overwhelmed by the energy Panhandle residents put on Southwest to come to their region,” Kelly said during his video address. “It was very, very clear they wanted us. We are so flattered by that.”

Southwest will fly up to eight daily flights, Kelly said. Nashville, Tenn., and Baltimore-Washington International in Maryland will be the destinations.

Read the full News Herald story here.

PCBDaily also covered the event.  Their take:

The buzz surrounding the announcement couldn’t be contained before Bob Montgomery, vice-president of properties at Southwest Airlines, took the stage and made turned that buzz into full-on electricity. “We will be bringing two daily flights from four destinations,” Mr. Montgomery said, “which makes eight non-stop flights. That’s almost 2,000 seats coming into the Northwest Florida region every day. By December you’ll have an announcement on fares and schedules and by May 2010 you’ll see our canyon-blue jets flying over your white, sandy beach and clear waters.”

The full PCBDaily story is here.