Travelers looking for new direct routes out of Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport are in for a treat with several airlines announcing the expansion of their flight offerings this year. According to WBALTV, starting February 7, Southwest Airlines will add a direct flight from Baltimore to St. Thomas and will also begin flying to Knoxville, Tennessee, and St. Maarten. Oklahoma City and Pensacola, Florida, later in the year. Frontier Airlines will begin its service to New Orleans beginning February 12, and Alaska Airlines is slated to offer flights to Portland, Oregon, starting May 13.
These new additions come as part of a significant growth plan for the airport that has become a bustling hub for the East Coast, particularly with Southwest Airlines carrying nearly 70% of passengers flying out of BWI according to a CBS News Baltimore report it's no wonder that in 2024, more than 27 million passengers passed through BWI's gates, reaching approximately 90 U.S. and international cities on 300 daily nonstop departures.
Moreover, the recent enhancements underline Maryland's commitment to modernizing infrastructure to bolster convenience for travelers, the addition of these flights coinciding with a significant makeover of the airport—a $520 million project completed after three years of work. This initiative not only linked the A and B concourses but also expanded gate capacity and upgraded the baggage handling system by over 60%, profoundly enhancing operational efficiency.
These recent developments serve the dual purpose of addressing rising commuter volumes and enriching the state's economic vitality with Governor Wes Moore stating at the makeover's inception, "By modernizing our airport, we're showing the world that we are making this Maryland's Decade and are committed to providing an outstanding travel experience for residents, businesses, and visitors," as highlighted in the same CBS News Baltimore report.
