MANCHESTER, N.H. – Southwest Airlines touched down at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) for the first time on June 7, 1998. Since their inaugural flight 25 years ago, Southwest has offered nonstop service to popular destinations such as Orlando, Baltimore, Chicago Midway and Tampa, and has played a significant role in the success of MHT.
“Southwest Airlines has been a steadfast partner to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport for 25 years,” said Airport Director Ted Kitchens, A.A.E. “Since their inaugural flight in 1998, Southwest has brought low-cost, nonstop flight options to New Hampshire residents and visitors alike. The Airport would not be where we are today without Southwest as part of our Airport family. We look forward to continuing our long and successful partnership!”
“Over the past 25 years, Southwest has enjoyed a wonderful partnership with Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, enabling us to operate approximately 150,000 departures and serve almost 16 million passengers at the airport to date,” said Tom Labrie, Southwest’s Station Director for the Northeast Region. “We sincerely appreciate the community supporting the Southwest Team since our inaugural flight from Manchester in 1998. It’s an honor to serve this region, and we look forward to offering our legendary Southwest Hospitality to local travelers for many years to come!”
Making History at MHT
- Southwest began serving MHT on June 7, 1998, leasing two gates and hiring a staff of 40. Overnight, MHT went from 17 daily departures to 29.
- Southwest brought some of the first low fares into MHT and the region. In 1998, with at least a seven-day advance purchase, passengers could purchase a one-way ticket to BWI for $39, to MDW for $90, and to MCO for $99.
- Manchester became Southwest’s 52nd city in their network.
- Over the past 25 years, Southwest has served almost 16 million passengers and operated approximately 150,000 departures from MHT.
- Southwest was the sole carrier to offer nonstop, year-round service to Florida from 2001 through 2021, demonstrating their longstanding commitment to flying Manchester passengers to top leisure destinations in Florida.
Southwest & MHT Today
- Southwest currently offers up to 8 flights per day to BWI, MDW, MCO and TPA for June 2023. In addition to being high-demand cities for New Hampshire passengers, these nonstop options also provide connections to multiple cities across the Southwest network.
- In 2022, Southwest maintained the largest market share at MHT, flying over 600,000 passengers to and from MHT.
- Southwest currently employs 65 employees at MHT.