Southwest Airlines coming to Fresno Yosemite International. Here’s when the flights will start

Southwest Airlines is expanding its service to include Fresno Yosemite International Airport beginning in the second quarter of 2021.

The airline’s Chief Commercial Officer, Andrew Watterson, said the expanded service in the state is focused on increasing the “reach of our low fares and flexible policies in places where we expect them to make a difference.”

Said Kevin Meikle, Director of Aviation for Fresno Yosemite International Airport: ”For years residents and businesses throughout Central California have expressed a desire for Southwest service and connectivity to their vast network of destinations and renowned customer service.

“Southwest will expand the Central Valley’s air transportation gateway to Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and we look forward to our new partnership with Southwest and their arrival in the spring.”

Along with Palm Springs, which received its first Southwest flight on Nov. 19, the addition of Fresno and Santa Barbara will position Southwest in 13 California airports before the summer.

Mayor Lee Brand called the news “the best holiday present that Fresno could have imagined. Local travelers have been waiting patiently for quite some time for this announcement and Southwest service has been, by far, the most talked-about and requested amenity in the Central Valley.”

Mayor-elect Jerry Dyer said “landing Southwest Airlines is a game changer for Fresno in terms of economic development, as well as flexibility and convenience for leisure travel. I look forward to continuing our discussions with Southwest Airlines officials as destination airports are finalized.”

This story was originally published December 16, 2020 at 7:47 AM.