Southwest Airlines begins flights to the Caribbean

News Americas Now, New York, NY, Wednesday July 2, 2014: Southwest Airlines, a domestic discount airline, began its first international flights yesterday and its first flights were to the Caribbean.

The airline’s inaugural flight took place from Baltimore headed to Aruba with flights to Jamaica and the Bahamas also expected. The international expansion follows Southwest’s acquisition of AirTran three years ago. AirTran has operated Southwest’s international service till now.

Southwest Airlines’ first international departure, Flight 1804 from Baltimore/Washington to Oranjestad, Aruba, departed ontime at 8:30am EDT, closely followed by Southwest Flight 906 to Montego Bay, Jamaica, where its first-ever scheduled international arrival was planned for just after 11am EST. A midday flight from Baltimore/Washington to Nassau/Paradise Island also brings Southwest Airlines’ legendary Customer Service to The Bahamas.

The routes Southwest expect to also fly will be aBaltimore-Montego Bay, Jamaica; Atlanta-Aruba; Atlanta-Montego Bay; Baltimore-Nassau, Bahamas; and Orlando-Montego Bay.

To commemorate the beginning of a historic chapter for the carrier, Southwest Vacations is offering up to $200 off select travel packages booked now through July 14, 2014, for travel July 4, 2014, through Jan. 4, 2015 at southwestvacations.com.