Southwest sets a March 13 start in Charleston with seven daily flights

Southwest Airlines will begin flying from Charleston International Airport on March 13, 2011, with seven daily nonstop departures to four cities, the Dallas-based carrier announced Wednesday.

Three of the daily flights will go to Baltimore/Washington, two to Chicago Midway, one to Nashville and one to Houston Hobby, according to Southwest. The airline will operate from gate B5 in the airport’s main terminal.

Southwest set the same start date for Greenville-Spartanburg, where it will fly seven daily nonstops to five cities. South Carolina will be the 36th state in Southwest’s network. Greenville-Spartanburg will be the airline’s 70th city and Charleston its 71st, the company said.

The carrier first said in May that it intended to serve both South Carolina cities in 2011 without subsidies, and that its plans would not depend on pending legislation to provide air service subsidies.

To mark Wednesday’s announcement, Southwest is selling one-way fares as low as $30 to any nonstop destination from Charleston and Greenville-Spartanburg through 11:59 p.m. Pacific time Thursday, for travel through April 6. After that sale ends, fares as low as $59 one-way will be offered for travel from March 14 through May 25, except on Fridays and Sundays, according to the airline.

“Southwest Airlines is delighted to bring our special brand of low-fare, high-quality Customer Service to travelers in Greenville-Spartanburg and Charleston,” said Dave Ridley, Southwest’s senior vice president of marketing and revenue management.

Susan Stevens, director of airports for the Charleston County Aviation Authority, which runs Charleston International, welcomed the move.

“Southwest’s vast national network will be linked to the Charleston region and will offer both residents and visitors new options for travel to and from the Lowcountry,” Stevens said in the airline’s announcement.

Southwest said passengers on the new routes will be able to reach more than 60 destinations directly or with a connection. The airline serves 69 cities in 35 states and operates more than 3,200 flights a day.