Southwest to begin service to Santa Barbara, Fresno

Southwest plans to begin serving Santa Barbara Airport and Fresno Yosemite International Airport next year. The airline said Wednesday it expects to begin flying in and out of the Central Coast and Central Valley airports in Q2 2021. Southwest flew its first flight into Palm Springs last month, and the addition of Santa Barbara and Fresno will give the airline a presence at 13 California airports. “For our residents, our partnership with Southwest will energize the economic rebound to come in 2021,” Santa Barbara Mayor Cathy Murillo said. Fresno’s aviation director, Kevin Meikle, said the service will expand the aiport’s role as a gateway to Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks.<br/>