Southwest To Launch Service To Florida

Southwest Airlines Co. said Thursday it will start flying to Florida in a long-anticipated move expected to bring down air fares to some of the state’s vacation hot spots.

The Dallas-based airline, known for cheap fares and bare-bones but often playful service, will start flying to Tampa and Fort Lauderdale next January and to Orlando in April.

The airline plans to fly to Tampa and Orlando from points in the Midwest, South and its lone Northeastern city - Baltimore. At least initially Ft. Lauderdale will have direct flights only to and from Tampa and Orlando.

The airline said fares and flight schedules wouldn’t be announced until the fall.

Tom Parsons, editor of Best Fares magazine, said Southwest’s move could drop leisure travel fares on some routes from 30 to 50 percent, and business fares by 50 to 70 percent.