Southwest Airlines has officially been awarded all 17 flight slots being vacated at Long Beach Airport by JetBlue, the city announced Wednesday.
JetBlue plans to end its operations at Long Beach Airport on Oct. 6, moving its base to Los Angeles International Airport.
“Southwest picking up all available flight slots at the Long Beach Airport so quickly is a testament to the strength of our airport and their commitment to succeeding here in Long Beach,” Mayor Robert Garcia said in a statement.
It was not immediately clear what additional service Southwest plans to offer at the airport. In May, the airline announced nonstop service to Phoenix and Austin, Texas.
“We’re grateful for this opportunity to bring more of our value and reach to our customers in the L.A. basin who prefer Long Beach, one of 10 airports we serve across the state,” Southwest Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Watterson said.