Southwest Airlines launched new nonstop daily flights from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) on Tuesday.
Southwest said the new flights will seat 175 passengers per trip and feature free on-demand movies, texting and live TV streamed to fliers' mobile devices—alongside the airline's usual beverage and snack service and two checked bags plus a carry-on bag.
Ticket prices listed Tuesday for a one-way flight from OAK to BWI cost between $279 and $409, according to Southwest's website.
“This new transcontinental nonstop is a definite time-saver for those traveling between the San Francisco Bay Area and the Baltimore-Washington metro area,” Craig Simon, Port of Oakland interim director of aviation, said in a statement.
The airport estimates that with about 900 people flying from the East Bay to the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., area, the new flight addresses the demand to fly from Oakland and avoid stops when flying coast to coast.
The news comes after United Airlines announced the resumption and expansion of some Asia/Pacific routes from San Francisco International Airport. Alaska Airlines recently said it would slash routes from SFO. Southwest announced its own cuts from SFO in July.