Southwest Airlines makes landmark flight into Bellingham

Southwest Airlines celebrated its inaugural flight into Bellingham International Airport (BLI) November 7, a triumph for the third-largest U.S. airline and port of Bellingham officials alike.

The inaugural flight from Oakland, California was the first of many, with the airline now offering direct flights from Bellingham to Oakland twice daily and Las Vegas once daily.

The Dallas-based company joins Alaska Airlines, Allegiant and San Juan Airlines already servicing the Bellingham airport. Bellingham is one of Southwest’s 120 destinations in 11 countries.

Port of Bellingham commissioners, port director of aviation Sunil Harman, Bellingham mayor Seth Fleetwood and Southwest officials celebrated the first plane’s arrival at the terminal with balloons and swag as a water cannon saluted the incoming plane. 

The Klan family from Erie, Pennsylvania were among those who arrived on the 143-passanger Boeing 737 Sunday. Tim, Holly and their son Mark flew their first inaugural Southwest flight 13 years ago and have since flown over 800 Southwest flights – tallying up over 12 celebratory flights this year.

“We go on an adventure whenever they announce a new city launch,” Tim Klan said. “It’s always a big party on the first flight in.”

Klan said they already have plans to visit Bellingham again and explore North Cascades National Park. 

While the Klan family was able to board this flight, Canadians will now have the opportunity, too. Southwest’s arrival came the day before the U.S. border opened to fully vaccinated Canadian travelers on November 8.

“Customers looking to escape the high taxes and fares at other airports north of the border will now be able to access an extensive network of destinations through the service Southwest Airlines provides at BLI,” port commission president Ken Bell said.