Jaunted

· Panama City, FL non-stop from Nashville and Baltimore:
This is the biggest news of the bunch, since Panama City is not only a huge spring break and beach destination, but its airport is so brand-spanking new that it won't even open until Southwest begins the service next May. Start planning your northwest Florida vacations now.

· Los Angeles, Nashville, New Orleans, Raleigh/Durham, Seattle and San Diego non-stop from St. Louis:
Southwest might have focused on Baltimore all through 2009, but 2010 is the year for good old St. Louis. With Southwest's new direct flights from the center of the country to its coasts and more, midwesterners will have a welcome option to the regular legacy carriers. Southwest's own blog gives us a tasty tidbit on the new routes as well: "Sidebar to all of you nascent 'schedule geeks' out there—St. Louis-Nashville service may be the single most frequently requested new market between existing Southwest airports during [their] 16 years in Schedule Planning." Who woulda thunk it? Expect these routes to also debut in May 2010.

· Minneapolis/St. Paul and Boston to St. Louis:
Okay so this isn't a new route announcement per se since they've been tossing around the info for a bit, but they're so excited about these routes coming in January that Southwest is adding more daily flights in May.

All said and done, the new routes coming in May will be available for booking in December. We recommend you get on it before Southwest's sun-seeking employees snatch up all the first flights!

Related Stories:
· Newsflash: New Service Coming In May [Nuts About Southwest]
· Southwest Airlines Coming To New Panama City Airport [WTVY]
· New Routes news [Jaunted]

[Photo: lycia-online.com]