Airline adds nonstop flights to Texas, Michigan from region

Southwest Airlines has announced new nonstop service between Sarasota Bradenton International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport and Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Mich.    

The airline joins Allegiant in offering a nonstop service to Grand Rapids from Sarasota-Bradenton and American, which has a nonstop flight to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex through Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Southwest’s new nonstop service to both Dallas and Grand Rapids will state June 12, according to a statement, and is scheduled for Saturdays only. Southwest is based in Dallas, at Love Field.

In addition to adding two new destinations, Southwest’s existing daily service from Sarasota-Bradenton to Chicago Midway International Airport will increase from one flight a day to two from Sunday through Friday starting May 9. Service to Columbus, Ohio Pittsburgh, and Indianapolis will increase from Saturdays only to five times weekly, Thursday – Monday, also starting May 9, the airline adds in a statement.

Southwest Airlines started service at Sarasota Bradenton, under the call letters SRQ, Feb. 14 with year-round service to four markets. It added five destinations in March and now, with  Dallas and Grand Rapids, serves 11 markets.

“It is really amazing to see Southwest Airlines continue to grow so rapidly at SRQ.  The two new destinations being added today will complement the growing list of destinations Southwest already serves at SRQ,” airport President and CEO Rick Piccolo says in the statement. “The increased frequencies to Chicago, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and Columbus are a testament to passenger demand and support for these new flights at SRQ.  We look forward to seeing Southwest continue to grow at SRQ, providing travelers low fares and convenient choices from their hometown airport.”

SRQ currently has 10 airlines providing nonstop service to 45 destinations.