Southwest Airlines Begins Nonstop Service Between Midway and D.C.

Southwest Airlines’ inaugural non-stop between Midway International Airport and Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.

On hand to witness the first takeoff were Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3), Alderman Mike Zalewski (23rd), Alderman Ed Burke (14th) and Chicago Aviation Commissioner Rosemarie Andolino, along with Southwest employees and customers.

The new service starts with six daily roundtrips, with three more scheduled to be added in September.

“For many years people have been asking me about service between Midway Airport and Reagan National Airport,” Lipinski said in a news release. “After all the hard work, it’s great to see the first flight taking off.”

Lipinski added that the service will provide a new option for families, school groups, church groups, business travelers and others looking for a convenient option to get to the nation’s capital. In addition, the Southwest service keeps Midway International Airport a vital economic engine on Chicago’s Southwest Side.

Traffic in and out of Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., is limited by the number of “slots” available. Lipinski lobbied the federal government to grant slots to Southwest when American Airlines and US Airways were merging and had to relinquish slots at Reagan National. Southwest had stated that if they were granted slots they would establish service to and from Midway Airport.

“I remember when this airport was a ghost town and I would ride my bike around the perimeter of an almost-empty field,” said Lipinski. “Now Midway Airport is booming, and for the first time in the history of the airport there were more than one million passengers boarding planes in one month. This new Southwest Airlines service will only add to the continued success of this airport, this neighborhood, and the region.”

Southwest’s non-stop service to Washington, D.C. could also help keep fares in check as it goes toe-to-toe with other with other major carriers, including United, American and Delta, Aviation Pros reported.