Southwest unveils 3 new routes as it extends schedule past July 4
Southwest Airlines unveiled three new routes Thursday as the carrier extended its booking window through July 10.
Many eagerly watch Southwest's schedule extension for updates to the carrier's route map, though the additions announced today are all seasonal routes featuring just one flight per week.
Despite the limited frequencies of the new routes, there are some interesting additions — including two from Denver International Airport (DEN).
Southwest's seasonal Saturday-only nonstop service between DEN and Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) will begin April 15. At a distance of 1,484 miles, it will be the longest regularly scheduled flight from the South Carolina airport. Southwest will be the only carrier flying nonstop between the cities, through ultra-low-cost rival Frontier Airlines has operated that route in the past.
Southwest's second seasonal addition from Denver will be to Bellingham International Airport (BLI) in Washington state. The airport is just south of the U.S. border with Canada and pulls passengers from metro Vancouver — that city's central business district is only about 50 miles from BLI. Alaska Airlines and Allegiant are the only other major carriers with service at BLI, and Southwest will be the only one with nonstop service to Denver. Southwest already offers service from BLI to both Las Vegas and Oakland.
Related: Everyone on this Southwest flight got a ukulele and lessons on how to play it
The last new route to join Thursday's schedule is another seasonal, low-frequency one: Nonstop service between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Iowa's Des Moines International Airport (DSM) will begin April 15, operating only on Saturdays through June 3.
Find details of the new routes below.
Related: The best Southwest Airlines credit cards
Denver-Bellingham
- Seasonal service begins April 15; Saturdays only.
Denver-Myrtle Beach
- Seasonal service begins June 4; Saturdays only.
Orlando-Des Moines
- Seasonal service begins April 15 and runs through June 3; Saturdays only.
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