Southwest Airlines direct flights from Spokane to San Jose begin

Frequent flyers to San Jose got a leg up this week, with Southwest Airlines beginning its daily, nonstop service between Spokane and the Bay Area city.

The year-round service, which began Sunday and departs Spokane at 6 p.m. and arrives in San Jose at 8:05 p.m., will be aboard a 143-seat Boeing 737-700 aircraft. The return service will depart San Jose at 5:25 p.m. and arrives in Spokane at 7:25 p.m.

Service to San Jose is the third added by Southwest from Spokane. The airline also offers direct flights from Spokane to Sacramento, Denver, Las Vegas, Oakland and Phoenix, and summer seasonal service to San Diego and Chicago.

“The continued growth in airlift at Spokane International Airport is great news,” Cheryl Kilday, president of Visit Spokane, said in a statement. “This has a direct impact on the positive image people have of Spokane by making it even easier to reach us and enjoy the destination. Adding another nonstop flight that will be connected to Spokane will provide new opportunities for tourism growth.”