A new airline will begin offering flights to and from the Santa Barbara Airport next month.
The arrival of Southwest Airlines is being called a “game changer for our entire region” by Santa Barbara Mayor Cathy Murillo.
Southwest announced Wednesday that starting in the second quarter of 2021, it intends to serve the Santa Barbara Airport.
“This news couldn’t come at a better time,” Murillo said in a press release. “We see the light at the end of the tunnel with the pandemic, and Southwest will come to Santa Barbara just as we all are eager to travel again.”
While no other details about the airline’s arrival have been released, airport officials say details on the number of daily flights and destinations will be available in the coming weeks.
Visit Santa Barbara CEO Kathy Janega-Dykes expects “the arrival of Southwest Airlines will bring new customers for Santa Barbara’s hotels, restaurants, wineries and attractions. Their famously low fares and expansive network will make us an even stronger competitor for leisure travelers, meetings and destination weddings.”
Airport officials say a recent UCSB forecast estimated the new service could generate as many as 1200 new jobs and bring in more than $300 million annually to the local economy.
