Southwest Airlines Is Adding Flights To Raleigh From Kansas City

(CTN News) – Kansas City will be reconnected to Raleigh. Southwest Airlines is resuming service between Kansas City International Airport (MCI) and Raleigh–Durham International Airport (RDU) in June.

With the carrier’s arrival, Frontier will fill the void left by the carrier’s departure from the route, which ceased operations in 2019, and Southwest’s axing of the route during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $1.5 billion Kansas City International Airport recently opened a new terminal, attracting Southwest Airlines to launch direct flights to Long Beach Airport (LGB) from Kansas City last month, marking the LCC’s 38th route from Kansas City.

Traveling to Los Cabos and Montego Bay

As Southwest Airlines announced last month, Cancun will lose its status as the carrier’s only international route in October. Direct flights will be offered from Kansas City to Montego Bay Sangster International Airport (MBJ), Jamaica, and Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), Mexico. A flight is scheduled for October 7th.

In the end, Long Beach wins

Throughout the year, the airline plans to expand its network, including the following connections:

• From July 11th to July 17th, Long Beach (LGB) will be served by Colorado Springs (COS)

• July 11: El Paso International Airport (ELP) to Long Beach Airport (LGB)

• The Orlando International Airport (MCO) will be moving to Long Beach Airport (LGB) on July 15th

• ABQ to Long Beach Airport (LGB) from September 5th

• Boise Airport (BOI) to Long Beach Airport (LGB) on October 7th

• Between October 7 and October 26 Long Beach International Airport (LGB) and Portland International Airport (PDX) will be connected

• Between October 7th and October 14th: Kansas City International Airport (MCI) to Montego Bay Sangster International Airport (MBJ)

• Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) to Kansas City International Airport (MCI) from October 7th

A new flight from Denver International Airport (DEN) to San Jose Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) in Costa Rica was announced last month by Southwest Airlines.

After the pandemic, there was a strong recovery

According to reports, Southwest Airlines was the first American airline to return to pre-pandemic staffing levels last year. Over 10,000 new team members were hired in 2022, on top of 1,500 additional staff hired in 2023.

Also, Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft continue to be delivered to the airline, helping to meet growing demand. It is scheduled to deliver about 30 737-800 aircraft in the first quarter, and to retire 27 737-700s in the same period, with five retiring in the first quarter.

843 Boeing 737 aircraft are expected to be in the Southwest Airlines fleet by the end of 2023.
A change to Southwest’s boarding process is reportedly being discussed in preparation for the influx of passengers.

The airline has tested a number of ways to expedite passenger boarding and boarding at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. An airline’s innovation team has been testing new ideas at four of its 18 gates at the busy airport.

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