Direct air service from Midland International Air and Space Port to Austin will be back starting in March of 2022.
The announcement comes as part of a restructuring effort where Southwest Airlines will have 20 new flights per day at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. New flights will provide a total of 46 non-stop destinations for Southwest out of Austin.
“We are thrilled,” MOTRAN president James Beauchamp stated in a press release.
MOTRAN has been providing information to airlines on the areas changing demographics and in conjunction with Nadine Craddick and Lorraine Perryman hosted a luncheon for Southwest Executives and Vice President Dave Harvey to see the area and talk to area businesses about their air service needs. Dr. Ray Perryman presented an economic model during the luncheon showing the projected growth for the area and its impact on the proposed Midland-Odessa to Austin flight.
“Austin is truly becoming a HUB for Southwest and being connected to that HUB will provide more destinations to Permian Basin travelers.” Beauchamp stated in the press release.
“With today’s major investment, we’ve designed a schedule specifically focused on bringing key nonstop routes and adding additional frequencies on already served routes for Austin’s business and leisure travelers,” Southwest’s Vice President of Southwest Business Dave Harvey stated in the press release.
Some of the new non-stop flights to Austin being added include: Amarillo (AMA), Charleston (CHS), Columbus (CMH), Midland (MAF) and Ontario (ONT), Puerto Vallarta (PVR), Panama City (ECP), Sarasota/Bradenton (SRQ) and Destin/Fort Walton Beach (VPS).
“I think most people will never understand how many conversations were taking place behind the scenes. We need to thank our partners at the Midland and Odessa Development Corporations for supporting our work to share the data and information needed, Lorraine and Dr. Perryman for helping host Southwest and his economic modeling, and finally, Nadine Craddick who has been been in continued contact even through a pandemic so that Southwest Airlines never forget we are out here!” Beauchamp stated.
