Southwest is finally coming to Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport. Starting April 7, 2026, the airline will fly nonstop from Santa Rosa to San Diego, Las Vegas, Denver and Burbank. San Diego and Las Vegas run daily (with a second San Diego round-trip on peak days); Burbank is scheduled five days a week; Denver runs Saturdays. Tickets went on sale Sept. 11.
For locals, this is a big quality-of-life upgrade. More nonstops mean fewer pre-dawn drives to Oakland or SFO and fewer nail-biting connections on the trip home. Southwest also brings a large national network, so one-stop trips from STS get easier—think San Diego or Las Vegas connections onward. County officials have been courting Southwest for years; the carrier was “heavily requested,” and the airport framed the move as expanding Eastbound connectivity.
Expect real fare competition—especially to San Diego. Alaska Airlines has long dominated STS and already flies the San Diego route. A new head-to-head usually pushes prices down and schedules up, at least at launch. Airport data last month still had Alaska as the airport’s top carrier by passengers, so this is the first serious challenger in a while.
If you’re wondering whether STS can handle the crowds: yes. The airport finished a roughly $40 million terminal modernization, adding about 33,000 square feet and new amenities. Parking and lines are already better than the big hubs, and the expansion gives breathing room at gates as Southwest ramps up.
There’s timing to watch. Burbank is five days a week, not daily, and Denver is Saturdays only—great for weekend ski runs or Rockies visits, but not a Monday client meeting. Daily Las Vegas helps with national connections and conventions; the extra San Diego trips on peak days should cover family travel and wine-country weekends heading south. Plan around those patterns and you’ll avoid the “why is there no Tuesday flight?” moment.
Policy changes matter to your wallet. Southwest now charges for checked bags on tickets booked May 28, 2025, and later—$35 for the first bag, $45 for the second—though elite tiers and certain premium fares still get freebies. If you’ve been a “two bags fly free” loyalist, adjust your math when you compare Alaska vs. Southwest pricing out of STS.
Seating will look different, too. By the time Southwest launches here, the airline will have moved to assigned seating (effective Jan. 27, 2026). That kills the old open-seating scrum and lets you pick seats when you book, with extra-legroom options and earlier boarding for higher fares and status. If you swore by EarlyBird, you may not miss it.
This also backfills holes Avelo left when it pulled out of Sonoma County in August. Burbank and Las Vegas are popular North Bay pairs; having Southwest restore that capacity should stabilize schedules and cut the “drive to Burbank first” contortions many travelers made after Avelo’s exit.
Bottom line for Sonoma County: more choice, likely better prices to SoCal and Vegas, easier one-stop access nationwide—and less time on 101. Watch the exact days for Burbank and Denver, factor in the new bag fees, and enjoy using the hometown airport the way it should work: park close, short lines, and home in time for dinner.
