NEW ORLEANS – Southwest Airlines, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport’s largest carrier, will begin seasonal service from New Orleans’ MSY to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) on April 30. Twice weekly service to Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, will be offered on Fridays and Sundays. Columbus, Ohio, will be served once a week on Sundays.
“These new nonstop routes from New Orleans to Raleigh-Durham and Columbus are another example of how we’re connecting our customers to what’s important in their lives and maintaining our position as New Orleans’ top choice in air travel,” Adam Decaire, Southwest Airlines’ managing director of network planning, said. “The route allows for quicker and easier access to the Big Easy during the weekends, a time period that matters most to our customers who are traveling to and from New Orleans.”
Southwest flights represent more than 35 percent of all flights from MSY with an average of 54 flights each day to 22 non-stop destinations. With these two new flights, Southwest increases their market share in New Orleans and helps to improve total non-stop destinations from New Orleans to 60, airline reps said.
“This announcement is another example of the exciting things happening at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport,” New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said. “We appreciate Southwest’s commitment in improving access to New Orleans for visitors around the country. Our community will benefit from these two new flights with greater connectivity to the places they want to go.”
“Southwest Airlines is a great partner to our airport and community,” New Orleans Aviation Board Chairwoman, Cheryl Teamer, said. “We are thrilled with Southwest’s decision to expand service with two new routes from New Orleans.”
“Southwest Airlines has done so much to connect our city with destinations throughout the country,” New Orleans Councilman Jared Brossett, chair of the Transportation and Aviation Committee, said. “Our community will be pleased with these new flights to Columbus and Raleigh-Durham.”
“These flights are welcomed additions to the service Southwest already offers from New Orleans,” Mark Reis, interim director of aviation for Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, said. “We are excited that our largest carrier is continuing to grow in our market with flights to Raleigh-Durham and John Glenn Columbus International, a new destination from MSY.”
