Southwest Airlines, which is the dominant carrier at the L.A./Ontario International Airport, will begin seasonal service to Reno-Tahoe Airport on Jan. 6, the first new route in 18 months, according to airport officials.
The new route is aimed at winter sports enthusiasts seeking vacation travel to Reno-Tahoe area.
The last time the airport got a new route for a major carrier was in the fall of 2010, when Southwest opened flights to Midway International Airport in Chicago, said airport manager Jess Romo.
Romo hopes the flight to Reno proves popular, which could lead to Southwest expanding flights from Ontario.
"Our hope is it shows some strong numbers and activity so they may keep it longer than the three months they've announced they're going to run it for," Romo said.
Daily service will run for three months from January to early April. Romo said the carrier plans to use a 137-seat 737 for daily flights.
Romo said it's been three years since Southwest had a year-round route from ONT to Reno-Tahoe.
"We are glad to see that Southwest Airlines is filling a need for people," Romo said.
Romo explained the Southwest Reno-Tahoe service was cut three years ago because as Southwest changed their presence in different airports over the past five years, "they've made decisions to move aircraft, which resulted in a number of airports losing certain routes."
"Every time they move into a new city, they move planes around and decide whether they pull them from," Romo said. "That's why they've seen changes in their frequency. Why they've pulled out of the Reno market."
Contact Neilvia email or by phone at 909-483-9356.
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