Oakland, Calif. – December 16, 2020: Oakland International Airport welcomed the news that Southwest Airlines will begin nonstop service between the East Bay airport and Tucson, Arizona (TUS). Daily flights will begin on March 11, 2021 and seats are now on sale at Southwest.com.
Southwest has published the following schedule:
Southbound
Depart Oakland 7:05 p.m. – Arrive Tucson 10:45 p.m.
Northbound
Depart Tucson 12:00 p.m. – Arrive Oakland 1:25 p.m.
Tucson becomes the second Arizona destination, along with Phoenix, that Southwest Airlines serves from OAK. Oakland International Airport is home to Southwest’s largest California base flying from coast-to-coast across the U.S., including Hawaii. The 747-mile flight to Tucson will be aboard Southwest’s fleet of full-size Boeing 737 jets. Southwest previously tested the market with Saturday-only service between the East Bay airport and Tucson. The results marked a success, and they are now moving forward with daily service.
Southwest returns air service to 3 cities – BWI, MCO and ATL
Additionally, in March 2021 Southwest Airlines will restore transcontinental service between OAK and Baltimore, Maryland (BWI), Orlando, Florida (MCO), and Atlanta, Georgia (ATL). These destinations were suspended in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Tucson is an often requested yet unserved destination from the East Bay and the transcontinental flights to Atlanta, Baltimore, and Orlando are very welcomed service restorations,” said Port of Oakland Director of Aviation Bryant L. Francis. “With these additions, over four million East Bay / Wine Country residents with a need to travel to these destinations will be able to use their home airport and we’re asking everyone in the East Bay to Fly OAK first in 2021.”
About Southwest Airlines Co.
In its 50th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service to a Customer base topping 130 million passengers in 2019. Southwest became the nation’s largest domestic air carrier in 2003 and maintains that ranking based on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s most recent reporting of domestic originating passengers boarded. In peak travel seasons during 2019, Southwest operated more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 103 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries. Southwest will begin service to Steamboat Springs, Colo. on Dec. 19, 2020, and also recently announced intention to serve Palm Springs, Calif. and Miami, Fla. The carrier issued its Southwest® Promise in May 2020 to highlight new and round-the-clock efforts to support its Customers and Employees wellbeing and comfort. Among the changes are enhanced cleaning efforts at airports and onboard aircraft, facemask requirements for Customers and Employees, and capping the number of passengers on every flight to allow middle seats to remain open through Nov. 30, 2020. Additional details about the Southwest Promise are available at Southwest.com/Promise.
Media Contact – Visit the Southwest Newsroom at swamedia.com for multi-media assets and other Company news.
Media Relations Team: 214-792-4847, option 1
About Oakland International Airport
Oakland International is the main airport for the greater East Bay, the most populated area in the metropolitan San Francisco Bay area. It is the closest airport to most Bay Area employers. By roadway and BART air-rail, OAK enables excellent access to all of the region’s business, entertainment and tourism venues. The vision of Oakland International Airport is to be the airport of choice for San Francisco Bay Area residents and visitors alike. OAK is operated by the Port of Oakland, which also oversees the Oakland seaport and 20 miles of East Bay waterfront. Together with its business partners, the Port supports more than 84,000 jobs in the region with more than a $130 billion economic impact. Updates about travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, current departure and arrival information, airport maps, and details about on-airport parking, shopping and dining and more, can be found at www.iflyoak.com.
Media contact – For members of the press only
Roberto Bernardo, Airport spokesperson
Oakland International Airport
OAK 24-hour media only hotline: 510-563-6500
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