Southwest Airlines Launching New Nonstop Flights to Punta Cana, Cancun

Southwest Airlines is continuing its rapid expansion push in the Caribbean with a trio of new Caribbean routes.

The company, which is rolling out a wave of new flights on June 4, has announced plans to launch new daily nonstop flights from Fort Lauderdale to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, beginning in November.

Southwest is also launching new weekly Saturday flights to Cancun, Mexico out of both Nashville and St. Louis, with the new service set to launch on Nov. 11.

Cancun.

Southwest’s Fort Lauderdale expansion, which will also include new daily service to San Jose, Costa Rica, will mean the carrier will fly to a tlta of 10 destinations out of that hub.

Starting rates on the Punta Cana flights start at $129 one way, with introductory rates for the Cancun flights at $149 one way.

Southwest is also expected to launch flights from Fort Lauderdale to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, beginning on Nov. 5.

“Our position as hometown carrier both here in Nashville and in St. Louis with more than a 100 flights a day this summer from both airports makes this weekly shortcut to Cancun a natural addition for our loyal Customers to hit another popular beach destination,” said Dave Harvey, who oversees International Planning as Southwest Airlines’ Managing Director of Business Development. “At the same time, we’re adding daily service in our established gateway in Fort Lauderdale as part of a larger effort to bring meaningful international service to Customers coast-to-coast who have made us America’s largest carrier.”

Heading to these destinations? Check out the top all inclusive Punta Cana resorts and the best Cancun hotels.

— Alexander Britell