Southwest Airlines on Tuesday made its inaugural direct flight from Baltimore, Maryland to New Providence and now the company is offering travel packages to commemorate the event.

Southwest Vacations is offering up to $200 off for travel packages booked now through July 14 and for travel August 10 through December 17. The bundled travel packages feature combinations of air, hotel, and car activities.

A non-stop flight from Baltimore/Washington to Lynden Pindling International Airport marked the beginning of the airlines’ customer service to The Bahamas.

“Southwest is excited to offer nonstop routes out of Lynden Pindling International Airport to Baltimore/Washington,” Southwest’s Senior Vice President of Ground Operations Jack Smith said. “This service gives our Nassau customers a convenient way to travel; connecting them with Southwest’s vast breadth of service across the domestic US and this next chapter plants a flag for Bags Fly Free and No Change Fees in The Bahamas.”

According to Mr. Smith Southwest has no bag fees, and there are no change fees when someone needs to change a flight.
Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna-Martin spoke for both her ministry and for the Ministry of Tourism, as Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe was not in country for the event.

She commended Mr. Smith and Southwest Airlines for their continued excellence and added that she hopes that Southwest would welcome opportunities for expansion throughout The Bahamas.

“We are very proud and we are very privileged to be here (today) for this very important day,” she said. “We understand the significance of (today’s) event, and we consider this a partnership, one of which we have a vested interest. We believe that this will provide opportunities for wider partnership between Southwest and the islands of The Bahamas. We are hopeful that when Southwest expands, that it looks to The Bahamas in its holistic implementation.”

According to Mr. Smith Southwest does not currently have any plans for service to The Family Islands at the moment, saying that “we are very careful where we select where we fly, so right now our focus is on Nassau.”
He did say however, that he “never rules anything out.”

Southwest now offers daily nonstop service to Baltimore and weekly service to Atlanta.

For additional information regarding the travel packages persons can visit southwestvacations.com.