Sonoma County travelers, get ready for takeoff! Southwest Airlines is set to revolutionize regional air travel by launching new flights from Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in April 2025.

The airline will offer nonstop routes to Burbank, Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego, significantly expanding travel options for North Bay residents and visitors. This strategic move comes on the heels of Avelo Airlines’ departure from the airport in August 2024, filling a crucial transportation gap for the region.

Jon Stout, the airport manager, expressed excitement about the long-awaited partnership, noting that discussions with Southwest have been ongoing since 2008. “We’ve been very interested and eager for their service for a long time, and patience paid off,” Stout said.

Southwest’s expansion isn’t just about convenience, it’s an economic boost for Sonoma County. The airline anticipates a significant increase in tourism and connectivity. Andrew Watterson, Southwest’s chief operating officer, emphasized their commitment to California, stating they’re “providing customers with more options than ever before”.

The move is part of Southwest’s broader strategy to strengthen its presence in California. Data from aviation analytics company Cirium reveals the intra-California flight market is one of the busiest in the country, with over 7,000 commercial flights scheduled in September 2025.

Local residents like Tyler Toler are thrilled about the new options. “I am extremely excited! I feel like it’s an awesome thing for the North Bay to have access to markets like Las Vegas and Denver without having to go to San Francisco or Oakland,” Toler shared.

With almost 250 Southern California flights already scheduled and expectations of growth, Southwest’s arrival signals a new era of accessibility for Sonoma County’s regional airport.