Southwest Picks Oakland International for Four New Daily Long Beach Flights

Southwest Picks Oakland International for Four New Daily Long Beach Flights

FLIGHTS SURGE IN BAY TO BASIN CORRIDOR BY WAY OF OAK

Oakland, CA – April 1, 2016: As it welcomes the former Long Beach Airport Director, Bryant Francis, to take its helm, Oakland International Airport (OAK) announces that service to Long Beach (LGB) will increase to include four new peak daily nonstops on Southwest.  Southwest Airlines will commence new nonstop service from OAK to LGB beginning June 5 with four daily 737 nonstop flights.

The airline announced yesterday that it has selected Oakland to receive all four of its available slot pairs from Long Beach starting this summer. With the additions, OAK and Southwest will offer more daily departures by a single airline from a Bay Area airport to Southern California with 43 peak nonstop flights per day.

The move serves as a parting gift of sorts, with the Southwest announcement happening on the very same day that former Long Beach Airport Director, Bryant Francis, took over as Director of Aviation at Oakland International Airport.

Francis, who was directly involved in the effort while in Long Beach, notes of the addition, “This announcement further strengthens ties between the San Francisco Bay Area and Long Beach. It’s great that all four flights are coming to OAK, continuing the growth track already underway here. OAK is the perfect airport for travelers to the San Francisco Bay Area, particularly because of the central location and proximity to businesses, residences, and tourism attractions.”

“Not only is OAK centrally located in the Bay area with great access enabled by the new Oakland Airport BART station, Southwest’s OAK Customers now benefit from nonstop service to all five LA Basin airports. That is effectively interchangeable on-the-fly with our low fares and no change fees,” said Andrew Watterson, Southwest Airlines Senior Vice President of Network & Revenue.  “It’s effortless to fly into one LA airport and out of any of the other four without a penalty and only Southwest can bring that time-savings and fee-savings value.”

Southwest already is the largest carrier in the Bay to Basin Corridor with 55% seat share, and 48% of those flights operating out of Oakland. With the new Long Beach service, Southwest will offer more nonstop destinations from OAK than it does from any other Bay Area airport. Southwest also has far more departures from Oakland than from the other Bay Area airports with a peak day schedule of over 120 flights.

The Bay Area is the third busiest US air service market on an origin and destination basis, and Oakland International is both centrally located and closest to the most residents and businesses within the Bay Area. OAK recently reported its 27th consecutive month of passenger growth. Southwest carries more passengers beginning or ending their trips in the Bay Area than any other airline.

The service expansions will take effect June 5th, 2016. On the same day, as previously announced, Southwest will also commence highly anticipated service to Reno-Tahoe (RNO) three times daily and St. Louis (STL). Tickets are online exclusively at southwest.com.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 45th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 49,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually.  Southwest proudly operates a network of 97 destinations across the United States and seven additional countries with more than 3,900 departures a day during peak travel season.

Based on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s most recent data, Southwest Airlines is the nation’s largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded. The Company operates the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world, the majority of which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi providing gate-to-gate connectivity.  That connectivity enables Customers to use their personal devices to view video on-demand movies and television shows, as well as more than 20 channels of free, live TV compliments of our valued Partners. Southwest created Transfarency^SM, a philosophy which treats Customers honestly and fairly, and in which low fares actually stay low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free®  to everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some airlines may allow free checked bags on select routes or for qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare differences might apply. In 2014, the airline proudly unveiled a bold new look:  Heart.  The new aircraft livery, airport experience, and logo, showcase the dedication of Southwest Employees to connect Customers with what’s important in their lives.

From its first flights on June 18, 1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of Transportation as “The Southwest Effect,” a lowering of fares and increase in passenger traffic whenever the carrier enters new markets.  With 43 consecutive years of profitability, Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier’s performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet. The 2014 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found at SouthwestOneReport.com.

Book Southwest Airlines’ low fares online at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.

ABOUT OAKLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Oakland International is the fourth largest airport in California and second largest in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 11 million travelers each year, OAK is the closest airport to the region’s top tourism and entertainment venues. It is also the closest for most local residents.

The airport currently offers air service to 52 destinations on 13 different airline brands – seven of which operate with OAK as their sole gateway into the San Francisco Bay region.

The vision of Oakland International Airport is to offer customers a world-class experience and be the airport of choice for Bay Area residents and visitors alike. OAK is operated by The Port of Oakland, which also oversees the Oakland seaport and 20 miles of waterfront. Together with its business partners, the Port supports more than 73,000 jobs in the region and nearly 827,000 jobs across the United States.

For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps, and details on shopping, dining, transportation, and more, visit www.iflyoak.com.
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