Grab your beach ball, it’s on! Southwest Airlines brings FUN in the sun to Panama City Beach, Florida! Flights are on sale today for the much-anticipated May 23, 2010, start of service! The Dallas-based airline will offer a better way to the beach with a total of eight daily nonstop departures:

Panama City Beach (ECP) to/from Nashville (BNA) - two daily flights

Panama City Beach (ECP) to/from Houston Hobby (HOU) - two daily flights

Panama City Beach (ECP) to/from Baltimore/Washington (BWI) - two daily flights

Panama City Beach (ECP) to/from Orlando (MCO) - two daily flights

Southwest is offering these new flights with fares as low as $49 each way to Orlando and $69 each way to Baltimore/Washington, Houston, and Nashville with a 14-day advance purchase. For more information on the new service see our blog post: blogsouthwest.com.

“Southwest Airlines is excited to bring to this brand new, top-notch airport an all-jet Boeing 737 fleet, our generous Bags Fly Free service where we don’t charge you extra for your first two checked bags, and our outstanding Customer Service,” said Bob Montgomery, Southwest Airlines Vice President of Properties. “We have been eyeing this region for a long time and have been extremely impressed by the amount of passion the community has put behind bringing Southwest Airlines to their hometown.”

In addition to the eight daily nonstop flights, Southwest Airlines will offer direct or connecting service to more than 58 destinations from Panama City Beach, including Dallas and Chicago. Southwest Airlines will operate from Gate 3 at the new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport with approximately 30-35 Employees who will call the region home.

When shopping for Southwest online, it’s important to know that Southwest Airlines’ low fares are only available at www.southwest.com. Not only will Customers find Southwest’s great rates online at www.southwest.com, but the site also hosts Southwest’s Travel Guide where Customers can check out insider travel tips posted by those who frequent the Emerald Coast.

After over 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation’s leading low-fare carrier, continues to stand above other airlines—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience with all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the nation’s largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, currently serves 68 cities in 35 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest operates more than 3,100 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide.

Fare Rules
The $49 each way fare between Panama City Beach and Orlando, and the $69 each way fare between Baltimore/Washington, Nashville, Houston Hobby, and Panama City Beach are available for purchase today (only on www.southwest.com or swabiz.com) through Dec. 18, 2009, for travel May 23, 2010, through Aug. 13, 2010. Fares are valid every day of the week. Fares are one-way and do not require an overnight stay. When combining fares, all ticketing restrictions apply. Seats are limited. Fares may vary by day of travel and will not be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods. Fares do not include a federal segment tax of up to $3.60 per takeoff and landing. Fares do not include airport-assessed passenger facility charges (PFC) of up to $9.00 one-way and U.S. government-imposed September 11th Security Fees of up to $5.00 one-way. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Tickets are nonrefundable but, if unused, may be applied toward the purchase of future travel on Southwest Airlines. Fares are valid on Southwest-operated published, scheduled service only and are not available through the Group Desk.

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Southwest to Fly to Nashville, Baltimore, Houston and Orlando
12/16/09 - 10:36 AM
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Southwest Airlines will be landing at the new airport in May.  Wednesday they officially announced the long awaited destinations.

“Our jets will be flying non stop between the new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport and Orlando, Baltimore, Houston, and Nashville,” said VP of Southwest Bob Montgomery.

Southwest will be making two non-stop flights to each of the 4 destinations but you can also fly to 58 different cities.

“We’ll have great service to Dallas, Chicago, to the New York region, to the Boston region, and the west coast,” said Montgomery.

The announcement of the special opening fares got even more applause than the destinations. 

“Starting today you’ll be able to book a flight out of Panama City for as low as $49,” said Montgomery.

Those deals are only until December 18th, but they say the rates will stay low.

“Our regular fares…are 75%, in many cases, lower than the other carriers,” said Montgomery.

Airport board members say all the hard work is coming to fruition.

“It’s a dream come true for us,” said Airport Board member, Bill Cramer, “It’s is just the objective that we’ve been working for all these many years.  To bring down the price of traveling in and out of our area.”

Businesses in the area think the destinations are right on target.

“This opportunity is really unimaginable,” said Shipwreck Water Park General Manager, Buddy Wilkes.

You can book a flight here.  The website has been experiencing some problems. 
They have a number you can call, 1-800-I-FLY-SWA to book flights until it gets up and running again.