Southwest Airlines will have five daily flights to and from Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport.
The service will begin June 2, 2013 with two nonstop flights to Dallas Love Field, two nonstop flights to Chicago's Midway Airport and one nonstop flight to Las Vegas.
"Attracting Southwest Airlines means a huge economic boost not only to Wichita but to the State of Kansas," said Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer. "Southwest will make it easier for visitors to come to Kansas through Wichita, which means more dollars spent on rental cars, hotels, shopping, and dining. It means greater opportunity to attract conventions, improve tourism and recruit companies to our region."
The Dallas and Chicago routes will fly the 143-seat, Boeing 737-700. The Las Vegas route will fly the 137-seat, Boeing 737-300.
Southwest will end AirTran's three daily flights to Atlanta, leaving Delta as the only airline flying from Wichita to Atlanta. The last AirTran flight to Atlanta will be on June 1, 2013.
Southwest acquired AirTran for $3.4 billion in 2011. Monday's announcement of Southwest routes is the culmination of a two-decade effort to bring the discount airline to Wichita.
"We've collaborated with City of Wichita partners to attract Southwest to Wichita," Victor White, Director of Airports, said. "This initial service is a start to bigger and better things in the future from Southwest."
Southwest Airlines is the nation’s largest domestic airline, with more than 3,400 flights a day.
