Southwest Airlines added another important transcontinental route to its growing list of cities available nonstop from Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) on May 6, with an inaugural flight to Orlando.
The carrier operated Florida One, Southwest’s Boeing 737-700 emblazoned with an artist’s rendering of the state flag on the inaugural flight on May 6. See photos of the gate ceremony and Florida One on SJC’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
With this new service addition, Southwest fulfills a major expansion announced last August for SJC that brings 80 added weekly flights this spring. Southwest’s service to Orlando is the latest launch in a series of eight new cities, six of which were previously unserved nonstop by any airline at SJC.
“This transcontinental nonstop journey between the South Bay Area/Peninsula and Florida is another addition in a steady drumbeat of investment Southwest is making in San Jose,” said Nate Barker, Senior Capacity Planner for Southwest Airlines. “We’ve added eight time-saving new routes just this year for our loyal San Jose Customers to get to places such as Orlando, St Louis, and Spokane without a stop or a drive to another airport.”
Just last week, Southwest announced its intention to offer Hawaii service from Mineta San Jose International Airport with tickets expected to be sold this year.
The daily flight to Orlando is well-timed to depart SJC at 11:40 a.m., arriving to Florida at 7:45 p.m. The return flight leaves Orlando at 8:15 a.m., arriving to SJC at 11:00 a.m. Travel times average five hours, 30 minutes, with flights departing and arriving SJC’s Terminal B.
“We are thankful to CEO Gary Kelly and Southwest’s leadership and the carrier’s local SJC team for their ongoing commitment to Silicon Valley, including the launch of Orlando service,” said Director of Aviation John Aitken. “With Southwest’s low fares, daily service and convenient flight times, families now have the ability to fly together to Florida – and to visit grandparents, family and seven of the top theme parks in the U.S. – including Walt Disney World.”
Southwest also launched the following cities this spring from SJC:
- Albuquerque and New Orleans – Sunday service
- Boise, Houston-Hobby, Saint Louis and Spokane - daily flights
- Cabo San Lucas – Saturday service (Southwest’s first-ever international service from SJC)
