Southwest Airlines has announced it will expand beyond the U.S. with flights to the Caribbean starting July 1, 2014, according to the Associated Press.
The airline carries more people in the U.S. than any other airline, but doesn't fly beyond the nation's borders. That will all change this summer, as Southwest has already started selling tickets for flights to places like the Bahamas, Aruba, and Jamaica from Atlanta, Baltimore, and Orlando.
Routes are currently flown by AirTran Airways, which Southwest purchased back in 2011, according to AP.
"Southwest Airlines democratized the sky from our first flights more than four decades ago," said Gary Kelly, president and chief executive of the airline, according to The Los Angeles Times. "Today's milestone enables us to reach new territory, new customers, and build upon a four-decade foundation of doing right by the travelers who trust our value and our people."
Technical limits to its reservations system has prevented Southwest from adding international flights sooner, as the airline has been considering a plan like this for a number of years.
Before the end of 2014 Southwest will likely take over at least four AirTran destinations in THE Dominican Republic and Mexico.
Eventually the airline wants to add international flights from places like Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Houston, Texas. Details for additional routes likely won't be announced until 2015 at the earliest.
The Dallas-based company will likely phase out AirTran before the end of the year, according to AP.
Chief commercial officer Bob Jordan said that international flying is "a big part of our growth strategy," and could eventually involve over 70 to 80 planes.
Southwest shares dropped 13 cents to $20.70 in trading today, Jan. 27.
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