Southwest Airlines touched down at Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport on Tuesday, bringing the carrier locals have long requested — and restoring nonstop options that disappeared when Avelo Airlines shut down at the Santa Rosa airport in August 2025.
The inaugural flight — from Las Vegas’s Harry Reid International Airport — arrived at 3:55 p.m. on April 7, with a departure at 4:35 p.m. The milestone was marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a Snoopy appearance at the Flying Ace taproom starting at 1:30 p.m. At the controls of the inaugural flight was Captain Marc Hauptman, a Santa Rosa native and Sonoma State University alumnus. “After years of hoping for Southwest service to his hometown, he’s excited to help bring it all to life,” the airline said.
The launch gives Sonoma County residents new nonstop access to a range of destinations. According to the Press Democrat, Southwest will fly daily to San Diego and Las Vegas, with service to Burbank on high-demand days. Denver service begins Saturdays and expands to five days a week starting August 26. Seasonal Saturday flights to Austin, Texas, are scheduled to begin October 3. The airport now has three carriers for the first time since Avelo’s departure — Southwest joins Alaska Airlines and American Airlines.
Airport Manager Jon Stout said the addition fulfills a long-standing community ask. “Southwest has long been a heavily requested carrier, and I’m proud to deliver for the people of Sonoma County,” Stout said. Supervisor James Gore welcomed the airline to “the North Bay family,” while Southwest Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson said the new route “provides more access to California’s famed Wine Country for our customers.”
For frequent travelers who have driven to SFO or Oakland to catch Southwest flights, the new service means shorter commutes to the gate and more affordable fare options closer to home — a practical win for residents across the county.
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