NEWS - May 15, 2015
SW Airlines Begins Booking International Flights
Earlier this month, Southwest airlines began a limited number of international flights from Houston's William P. Hobby International Airport.
The first Southwest international flight from Hobby Airport was to Aruba's Aruba's Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) on May 9, 2015. The airline has scheduled seasonal weekly flights to Aruba. Aruba is first on the list of new international flights from Houston Hobby because it has customs facilities that can process travelers before they depart. Hobby Airport's new terminal building and customs facilities are scheduled for completion in October, 2015.
The airline has now begun booking flights for an expanded list of international destinations in the Caribbean & South America.
On October 15, flights will begin to Cancun, Mexico City, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Belize and San Jose, Costa Rica.
Beginning November 1, 2015, Southwest Airlines will start flying to Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Liberia, Costa Rica.
These new international flights are scheduled to begin shortly after the opening of the new $156 million Hobby Airport international terminal, which has been under construction for the last year. The new terminal will add additional boarding stations, as well as customs facilities for incoming international travelers. Additional parking has also been added to accomodate the anticipated increase in airline passengers using Houston Hobby..
Several of the newly announced destinations are currently serviced by only one airline from the USA. Increased competition from Southwest Airlines on those air routes is likely to lead to lower fares on those routes.
With the beginning of new international flights from Houston Hobby, Houston now has two "International" airports. The closer proximity of Hobby to most Houston residents is expected to rapidly increase the number of travelers flying from Hobby Airport.