Southwest Airlines Launches First Ever Bay Area International Flights from Oakland
Port of Oakland Celebrates 90 Years with a Southwest Airlines Mexican Beach Getaway
Oakland, CA: (February 9, 2017) — Oakland International Airport (OAK) and Southwest Airlines will launch the airline’s first ever international flights from the San Francisco Bay Area on Sunday, February 12th. Southwest will commence daily service to two popular destinations on the Mexican Riviera, Puerto Vallarta and San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos. Reveling travelers will be greeted at the airport by a mariachi band, balloons, cake, and executives from both the Airport and Southwest. The flight to Puerto Vallarta (PVR) departs at 10:40 a.m., with the flight to Los Cabos departing shortly thereafter, at 11:05 a.m. It's a day for celebration as the inaugural flights will commence on the 90th Anniversary of the Port of Oakland, which operates the Airport.
“We’re thrilled that Southwest continues to have East and North Bay residents in mind, adding these two often requested routes from Oakland, home of their largest and most extensive Bay Area operation. Travelers across Southwest’s western network - in particular those in Reno-Tahoe, Boise, Spokane, and Portland – also now have faster and more reliable options by connecting here at OAK," said Bryant L. Francis, Director of Aviation for the Port of Oakland. "These new nonstop flights translate to greatly reduced journey times for sun and fun seekers resulting in more time at the destination.”
“Linking the East and North Bay to these Mexican beach resort areas with time-saving itineraries brings our customers low-fare and high-value service that traffic patterns show is already important in their lives,” said Leah Koontz, Southwest Vice President of Finance & Controller. “We’re adding nonstop service that extends the reach of Oakland’s convenient and easy airport experience to bring two of the top-ranking international destinations that currently don’t have a nonstop option.”
Perfect Timing for International Expansions
Southwest’s expansion into the international market from OAK comes as the airport enhances its facilities to handle a significant increase in international traffic during 2017.
Work is well underway to modernize and expand the International Arrivals Building for U.S. Customs & Border Protection services, and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2017. Arriving international passengers will enjoy a fresh and contemporary terminal experience, adding to the convenience of flying OAK. The Airport seeks to continue improving the customer experience.
For more information about the new flights and to book a seat, visit Southwest.com.
About Oakland International Airport
Oakland International is the fourth busiest airport in California and second busiest in the San Francisco Bay Area. Serving over 12 million travelers annually, OAK is the closest airport to the region’s top tourism and entertainment venues. It is also the closest airport for most local residents.
Oakland’s air service roster to over 60 destinations is scheduled 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.oaklandairport.com. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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