SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Southwest Airlines has announced the destinations it will fly to from Santa Barbara Airport, including several daily flights to Las Vegas.
Southwest will begin SBA service on April 12, 2021. The initial schedule includes three daily departures to Las Vegas, one daily flight to Denver and one daily flight to Oakland.
“Obviously, all markets are strong in themselves, but they are also important connection points within the Southwest network,” said airport spokeswoman Deanna Zachrisson, who said passengers in Santa Barbara will now have access to 50 other destinations in the southwest through the new connections.
“We know that we have been an attractive market for Southwest, but it was necessary to shake up the industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic to provide the impetus to enter the market,” said airport director Henry Thompson in a statement. “Whatever the reason, it is our region that benefits.”
Southwest’s chain and its notoriety for low fares and no baggage fees make it a popular airline.
“They simply have a large and loyal customer base,” said Zachrisson. “And that is one of the reasons why we have been chasing them for so long.
Airport officials and other local organizations have been courting the airline for at least five years.
The tour group Visit Santa Barbara was actively involved in these conversations. The organization is now committing $ 250,000 to support the new flights, including marketing campaigns to attract visitors to each of the new destination cities in the southwest.
Once leisure travel is deemed safe again, the new airlines can help spur a significant recovery for the Santa Barbara hospitality industry and the economy in general.
“Obviously, this is important for our very critical tourism industry, for the meeting and conference industry, for weddings,” said Kathy Janega-Dykes, President and CEO of Visit Santa Barbara. “The easier it is for people to get here, the more likely they are to consider a visit and certainly become recurring visitors.
“We also know that air passengers stay in the region longer than those arriving by car or train. They also tend to spend more money in our community … And the pandemic has certainly shed light on how tourism is essential to our local community. “
Southwest flies Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft to all its destinations and will also fly from Santa Barbara.
New flights can be booked on the Southwest website. The initial fares start at $ 39 each way to Las Vegas.