For those who have essential travel needs, LGB has instituted a number of measures to enhance passenger safety, including physical distancing, new disinfecting protocols and a face covering requirement. In addition to 34 flight slots held by Southwest, Delta Air Lines holds 12, American Airlines holds three, Hawaiian Airlines holds two and FedEx and UPS each hold one.Ĭurrently, all of Southern California is under a Regional Stay at Home Order, and all non-essential travel is temporarily restricted. In early September, the air carrier gained an additional 17 flight slots. Southwest Airlines first began service from LGB in 2016. “Our plan forward for Long Beach Customers contemplates an anticipated recovery in travel paired with best use of slots for which we are, again, so grateful.” “These new routes bring more reach for Long Beach with nonstop service to mid-continent business centers and offer our Customers in the eastern half of the country the ease of experience of Long Beach Airport,” said Vice President of Network Planning for Southwest Airlines Adam Decaire.
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Southwest’s new service will significantly boost these numbers when it begins in March 2021. Approximately 20 flights per day are currently operating and October passenger numbers were down 81% compared to the same period last year. Like airports across the nation, Long Beach Airport has seen a steep decline in passenger traffic as a result of COVID-19. “When the time is right, Long Beach Airport is here to welcome our travelers with even more destinations and connections than before.” “We encourage our passengers to follow current travel advisories, but that doesn’t stop us from looking forward to the day when travel returns around the country,” said Airport Director Cynthia Guidry. Flight slot utilization requirements at LGB have been temporarily waived for all airlines due to the pandemic.
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With today’s announcement, the airline will likely operate approximately 25 daily flights in March and 34 starting in April.
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Of the 53 daily flights available at the slot-controlled airport, Southwest holds 34. “Once this pandemic is over we look forward to our airport playing a key role in our economic recovery.”įollowing last month’s news that LGB will serve as Southwest’s only nonstop connection between Hawaii and the Greater Los Angeles area, the Dallas-based airline will now fly nonstop to 13 U.S. “We’ve been working with Southwest and are very pleased to see a diversity of destinations for residents and travelers,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. The new destinations, which significantly enhance nationwide connections from LGB, are Chicago (MDW), Dallas (DAL), Houston (HOU), Reno (RNO) and St. Long Beach, CA - Southwest Airlines today announced that it will begin daily, nonstop flights from Long Beach Airport (LGB) to five new cities, beginning in March 2021.