Beginning Tuesday, Wichita Eisenhower Airport passengers can fly nonstop to St. Louis International Airport and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Southwest Airlines.
St. Louis will be served with two daily flights that offer convenient connections to popular destinations in the Midwest and the East Coast. The Phoenix route will be served with one daily flight and will also offer connections to key western destinations. Southwest also serves Las Vegas, giving Wichita passengers two daily flights to the west.
On Monday, Southwest will discontinue its nonstop service from Wichita to Chicago Midway and Dallas Love. There is too much capacity to those markets, Southwest officials said. As a result, the St. Louis and Phoenix routes are expected to perform much better.
“We wish to thank Southwest Airlines for its commitment to our market and for offering their quality air service to these key destinations,” Mayor Jeff Longwell said. “Southwest Airlines is essential to keeping fares in Wichita affordable, which is key to economic development. I encourage everyone to fly them as much as possible.”
A celebration is scheduled from 2-5 pm on Tuesday. A water cannon salute is planned for the 3:10 pm departure to Phoenix. Journalists planning to attend should call the Airport at (316) 946-4700 by 3 p.m. Monday, with their full name and date of birth so that gate passes can be issued. Gate passes will be issued at the Southwest Airlines’ ticket counter.
