Southwest Airlines to begin service at this small North Bay airport

(KRON) — One of the nation’s largest airlines will soon be providing service at a small North Bay airport. Southwest Airlines will begin service next year at Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, a press release stated on Wednesday.

Starting on April 7, Southwest will now fly in and out of Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS). Tickets can be purchased as early as Thursday, Sept. 11, Southwest said.

Inaugural service at STS will connect nonstop flights to San Diego, Burbank, Las Vegas and Denver, per Southwest. The San Diego and Las Vegas routes are available daily, which includes two San Diego roundtrips on “peak days.” Service to Burbank will start off at five days per week and Denver on Saturdays only. 

Southwest said the move to expand service to the North Bay city connects more travelers to “California’s famed Wine Country.”

“We aren’t slowing down in our pursuit to provide Customers with more options than ever before,” Southwest Airlines COO Andrew Watterson said in a statement. “Adding Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport to our route map provides more access to California’s famed Wine Country for our Customers and further solidifies our years-long commitment to California.” 

The wine industry, especially here in the Bay Area, has braced for high tariffs amid an overall slowdown in business. Trade tensions between the U.S. and Europe have contributed to California’s iconic wine industry being hit by declining global wine consumption, rising costs and swings in weather.

The move for Southwest to expand service at STS comes after Avelo Airlines ended operations at the Sonoma County airport in August.

With the addition of Santa Rosa, Southwest is now available at 14 airports in California, according to the airline. Southwest said that is the most out of any other airline today.

“I can’t tell you how pleased I am to welcome the newest member of our airline family,” said STS Airport Manager Jon Stout. “Southwest has long been a heavily requested carrier, and I’m proud to deliver for the people of Sonoma County. I look forward to a long-lasting partnership.”

Southwest recently announced new service to other smaller airports in the country: St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, Knoxville Tenn. and St. Maarten in the Caribbean.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.