Southwest Airlines is expanding in 2021.
Soon, it will start flights to Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Houston George Bush Intercontinental.
The Dallas-based airline already has flights headed to the two smaller airports in those cities — Midway and Hobby, respectively — the Associated Press reported Monday (October 12), the day Southwest made its announcement.
Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Watterson told the Associated Press that Southwest has idle planes it will use at the new airports, though flight schedules haven’t been set at this time.
“Work is underway to add new service from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), alongside existing service from the carrier's longtime Chicago home, Midway International Airport (MDW),” Southwest stated in a news release. “Midway remains one of the busiest airports in Southwest's network. Since first arriving in Chicago in 1985, Southwest has grown into one of the city's largest employers with more than 4,800 Chicago-based Employees.”
“As Southwest approaches a commemoration of 50 years of flying, the carrier intends to return to Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport, complementing its substantial operation at Houston Hobby (HOU),” the airline continued. “Intercontinental served as one of three airports where Southwest operated on its first day in operation, June 18, 1971. The carrier moved to Hobby Airport shortly thereafter though it operated service from both airports between 1980 and 2005. Southwest remains a key employer in the City of Houston, providing nearly 4,000 jobs."
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