Southwest adds new year-round service between MSP, Austin
This July 17, 2019 photo shows Southwest Airlines planes at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix.[Ross D. Franklin/The Associated Press]
Starting this summer, Southwest Airlines will add a new connection between Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and Austin, Texas.
The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) announced the new year-round service on Tuesday. Service is scheduled to begin on June 6.
Austin was MSP’s 28th largest domestic destination in 2019, the MAC said, averaging 329 daily passengers or around 120,000 for the year. Austin is also one of MSP’s fastest-growing markets, with traffic increasing 64% since 2016.
Southwest will fly between MSP and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport six days per week, according to the MAC.
"We’re fortunate to tap directly into an exciting and booming region with another airline, giving travelers more connectivity and flight options," Brian Ryks, CEO of the MAC, which operates MSP, said. "Austin is the second new year-around route Southwest has added at MSP this year, having launched service to Houston Hobby last month. We very much appreciate Southwest’s increased investment in Minnesota."
MSP is averaging 343 daily departures in April, up from 339 in March, according to the MAC.