Southwest Airlines has secured the 17 permanent flight slots at Long Beach Airport made available by JetBlue's planned departure from the airport, according to airport officials.
The moves gives Southwest 34 total slots at Long Beach Airport, airport officials said. While the carrier has made no announcement of new service, "it is expected that the airline will increase its current offering of nonstop destinations from LGB," according to the airport, which noted Southwest in September would begin previously announced service to Austin and Phoenix.
Southwest has operated domestic flights from Long Beach since 2016. Other carriers with slots at the airport include Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.
JetBlue in July announced its October 2020 departure from Long Beach as part of a "focus city strategy," in which it consolidates service in major metropolitan areas. JetBlue plans to move some of its service to Los Angeles International Airport.