After recently securing a single gate at New York LaGuardia airport Southwest Airlines in June plans to launch flights to Chicago Midway and Baltimore Washington International Airport.
Southwest recently concluded a deal to purchase 14 slots at the airport for $7.5 million that were previously held by defunct ATA Airlines.
The carrier plans to offer five daily nonstop flights to Chicago and three to Baltimore beginning 28 June.
Southwest faces competition from US Airways on the LaGuardia-Baltimore flights as the US major offers 50-seat regional jet flights through its Express partner Air Wisconsin and Bombardier Dash 8 turboprop service through its Piedmont Airlines subsidiary, schedules in Innovata show.
On flights from LaGuardia to Midway, Delta Connection carrier Shuttle America operates 81-seat Embraer E-175s.
"For years, Customers have asked for Southwest service into New York City, and we are now connecting two of our largest markets with the nation's largest city," says Southwest CEO Gary Kelly.