EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE — Thursday was a historic day for Okaloosa County and Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport because it was introduced {that a} partnership had been cast with Southwest Airlines that ought to show useful to guests and vacationers alike.
It was an equally monumental day for veteran Southwest pilot Casey Murray, who was granted the honour of touchdown the primary aircraft bearing the Southwest emblem at his hometown airport.
“I’ve lived right here for 26 years. I’m a product of Fort Walton Beach,” Murray stated. “I wished to be the one to say it was my wheels that touched down right here first.”
The announcement:VPS welcomes Southwest Airlines, adding direct flights to Nashville, Chicago and more
More new routes:Allegiant continues Destin-Fort Walton Beach expansion with five new routes
Murray was accompanied by his spouse and son on a morning flight from Nashville, Southwest’s precise inaugural journey into Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport.
He stated his flight had gone nicely, then smiled and shared a secret as he waited with dignitaries and members of the information media for the noontime arrival of the ceremonial inaugural flight, which got here in from Dallas amid a lot fanfare and a water cannon salute.
“I needed to do a go-around coming in,” he stated. “So truly, I received to do the primary two approaches.”
Murray stated he needed to go on his first touchdown effort to permit a navy aircraft to take off from the runway Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport shares with Eglin Air Force Base.
Reeling in Southwest was one thing of a coup for Okaloosa County Airports Director Tracy Stage and in remarks made earlier than the arrival of the flight from Dallas he thanked Southwest and his personal employees for working the lengthy hours required to get at least a yr’s value of preparation executed in only a matter of months.
“It has been a protracted street,” he stated. “The addition of Southwest Airlines to our household is a monumental win for our communities, companies and the trade.”
“Today’s actually a end result of 15 years of effort,” Stage would say after the celebration. “Southwest is ranked No. 1 on this planet and we received them.”
Southwest joins Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta and United as tenants at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, which is definitely positioned in Valparaiso and subsequently goes by the decision signal of VPS.
The airline now claims a presence at the three largest Florida airports west of Tallahassee, Pensacola International Airport, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport in Panama City and Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport.
Murray acknowledged the “bizarre dynamic for Southwest, having bases in three cities inside 90 miles of one another,” however Stage stated the local markets, every of which help navy missions and a booming tourism trade, can fulfill the airline’s wants.
“The demand is there,” he stated. “That’s all I can inform you, the demand is there.”
Bill Tierney, the vp for advertising for Southwest Airlines, informed these gathered awaiting the arrival of Florida 1 from Dallas that the airline had seen the potential for fulfillment within the Destin-Fort Walton Beach market early on, and had boosted the variety of vacation spot cities for the local airport from 4 to 9 “earlier than we ever began to fly.”
Southwest’s arrival comes as work continues at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport to increase and create a “entire new Allegiant terminal” with 4 new plane bays, based on Okaloosa County Commissioner Mel Ponder.
With the completion of Concourse C, “there needs to be room” to accommodate the entire airport’s tenants, County Administrator John Hofstad stated.
Previous protection:Allegiant to extend more than two dozen seasonal routes
“We are busting at the seams,” Hofstad stated.
Ponder known as the arrival of Southwest Airlines “a recreation changer,” and County Commission Chairman Carolyn Ketchel stated Southwest’s arrival marked “a terrific day for our county.”
Southwest will instantly start providing every day flights to Nashville, Tennessee, and Baltimore, Maryland, and on June 6 plans to supply every day flights to Dallas and Chicago.
Also starting June 6, weekend flights will likely be supplied to Austin and Houston in Texas, Kansas City and St. Louis in Missouri, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
