Photo courtesy Southwest Airlines.

Southwest Airlines is building on its dominance in Pittsburgh by adding two nonstop destinations this fall.

With the addition of flights to Austin, Texas, and Miami, the Dallas-based airline will serve 19 cities from Pittsburgh International Airport, the most of any carrier at the airport. 

The flights to Austin will operate between Nov. 23 and Jan. 3, while the Miami service will operate between Nov. 20 and Jan. 1.

Southwest is Pittsburgh International Airport’s busiest airline in terms of passengers carried, with 30 percent of all passenger traffic, followed by American Airlines at 23 percent.

Flights are increasing nationwide as the travel industry rebounds from the pandemic shutdown.  Tripadvisor’s 2021 Summer Travel Index reveals that 67% of Americans are planning to travel this summer. The top 5 destinations are Cancun, Mexico; Orlando, Florida; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Key West, Florida; and Miami.

Southwest recently added service to Sarasota, Florida, and Myrtle Beach and has resumed flights to Dallas, St. Louis and Cancun.

“We’re continuing to expand our service bringing low fares, flexible policies and world-famous hospitality to more people, making it easier to choose Southwest,” Andrew Watterson, Southwest’s chief commercial officer and executive vice president, said in a press release. 

Southwest’s announcement comes shortly after Salt Lake City-based Breeze Airways, which launched in May, said it would offer low-cost, nonstop flights to Hartford, Connecticut; Providence, Rhode Island; Charleston, South Carolina; and Norfolk, Virginia; starting on July 8. 

Brian brings a passion for Pittsburgh, doughnuts and ice cream to his job as editor. His more than 30 years of journalism experience have taught him the importance of community engagement and a sense of humor.