Does Southwest fly to Panama City Panama?

If you’ve been dreaming of getting away to the Sunshine State, look no further than Panama City Beach, FL. Spending your time outdoors is the best way to enjoy all of the fun this city has to offer. Whether you’re heading to the beach, finding ways to commune with local flora and fauna, or eating on the pier after a day of shopping along the coast, there’s no shortage of adventures by land and sea to choose from during your trip.

Watch the sunset on a peaceful catamaran cruise, a popular tourist activity in the city. Make time for all kinds of aquatic activities during your visit, whether that’s splashing around in the ocean or packing your binoculars to watch for dolphin sightings in the area’s crystalline waters. Sugar-sand gulf-coast beaches are so inviting, you may find that you don’t want to leave your beach blanket for the duration of your stay. Luckily, you won’t have to venture too far to find local dining options for refueling the fun.

Get closer to Florida’s natural wonders responsibly with a visit to St. Andrews State Park. Bordering the east side of the city, this state park offers visitors spectacular nature trails and lakes to explore, including Gator Lake. Hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, and more are activities you can enjoy during your visit; if you’re traveling with little ones, be sure to make time for the kiddie pool. Catch glimpses of native, wild animals in their natural habitat—from a distance, of course. Camping is allowed, so bring a sleeping bag and enjoy a night spent under a blanket of stars.

Fun in the sun awaits you in Florida. Start planning your Panama City Beach, FL, visit by booking with Southwest®. Southwest Airlines flies to Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, which makes getting there a breeze. When you book with Southwest, the process will be simple from selecting your flight to checkout. We know that having a great time on the beach isn’t only about finding an excellent deal on a flight. Learn more about the Southwest® Experience and book your upcoming flight.

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Things to do in Panama City Beach, FL.

Picture-perfect parks

• Camp Helen State Park
• Dr. Von D. Mizell Eula Johnson State Park
• St. Andrews State Park

Must-see museums

• Man in the Sea Museum
• Panama City Publishing Company & Museum
• Science & Discovery Center of Northwest Florida

Water-based fun

• Canoeing and kayaking
• Diving and snorkeling
• Parasailing

Traveling from Panama City Beach.

Southwest Airlines proudly serves Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport.

If you’ve had your fill of walks on the pier and sparkling ocean waters, it’s time to look for an escape. Board a Southwest® flight from Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport to start your next trip. Flying with Southwest means you can trade coastal waters for a cabin retreat in the mountains, a big-city suite, or the shores of a body of water other than the Atlantic. While we know that Panama City Beach offers fun outdoor excursions, you can explore other beautiful environments around the country that you can’t see in the Sunshine State. Trade the beaches and heat for something new.

One of the best ways to really get to know a new place is to explore the local food scene. Whether that’s creole cooking in New Orleans, or the ultimate Philly cheesesteak on the East Coast, or Tex-Mex favorites along the border, the possibilities are endless. From food, to outdoor fun, to bucket-list sightseeing, Southwest can help you reach your dream destination so you can fall in love with somewhere new. Whether you take a shuttle or shared ride, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport is easy to depart from when your journey begins in Panama City Beach.

Start making new memories all over the globe. Whether you’ve had a destination on your bucket list for years, or want to take a spontaneous trip to quench your thirst for adventure, Southwest can help you get there when you fly out of Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. See where you can fly with Southwest—and earn Rapid Rewards® points when you fly. Southwest makes booking a breeze from flight selection to boarding. Learn more about what makes the Southwest® Experience special.

Bay County lands Southwest // VIDEO, PHOTOS, DOCUMENT
Comments 58 | Recommend 6
Low-cost carrier to begin service in May from Panama City to 4 destinations
October 21, 2009 01:10:00 PM
By PAT KELLY / News Herald Writer

WEST BAY — Beach balls were tossed aloft, pom-poms waved and hundreds stood and cheered Wednesday in the unfinished terminal of the airport construction site near West Bay as Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly announced via streaming video that his low-cost airline was coming to Bay County.

“This is the largest airline story in Northwest Florida right now,” Airport Authority member Rick Koehnemann said. “This is like winning the Super Bowl.”

Kelly announced the decision to bring the nation’s largest domestic carrier to the new Northwest Florida-Panama City International Airport, set to open May 18, from the company’s headquarters in Dallas. He called the area an “underserved, overpriced tourist gem.”

“We have been overwhelmed by the energy Panhandle residents put on Southwest to come to their region,” Kelly said during his video address. “It was very, very clear they wanted us. We are so flattered by that.”

Bob Montgomery, Southwest’s vice president of properties, told the local crowd that current plans call for eight non-stop flights a day from four different cities, totaling about 2,000 passengers per day coming into the new airport.

“I’m just so happy to be here and so happy that this day has finally come,” Montgomery said, noting that the airline would help make the region more accessible to a broader market across the country.

Dana Williams, Southwest director of marketing, said no decision had been made on specific cities. Some of the cities Southwest serves include Nashville, Tenn., Baltimore/Washington, Orlando, Dallas, Houston and Chicago.

Panhandle airport officials and private groups in Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach and Panama City had been competing fiercely to bring Southwest Airlines to their respective airports, including businesses and individuals offering “in-kind” monetary pledges.

Greg Donovan, Okaloosa County’s airports director, said the entire region will benefit from having Southwest Airlines at the new Panama City airport.

“Certainly we would have loved to have them at our airport, but there are other possibilities,” Donovan said.

Montgomery specifically thanked the St. Joe Co. “for bringing Southwest Airlines to the Panhandle.”

St. Joe filed documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday that outlined an agreement to make quarterly payments to Southwest for its first three years of service in the event Southwest operates at a loss, up to $14 million the first year and $12 million the second year.

The covenant “provides that Southwest’s profits from the air service during the term of the agreement will be shared with St. Joe up to the maximum amount of St. Joe’s prior break even payments,” according to the filing.

The agreement between St. Joe and Southwest also stipulates the carrier will not begin service in the next three years to other airports within 80 miles of the new Panama City airport.

St. Joe President Britt Greene praised the “professionalism” of Southwest and said attempts to land the carrier had been a regional effort.

“Today, we are all changing the destiny of Northwest Florida,” Greene said.

Florida Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, who was at the West Bay event along with officials from both Bay and Walton counties, said the decision by Southwest to become a part of the new airport had “forever changed” the landscape of the Panhandle.

“People will look back on this day as a real turning point in the community,” he said.

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., a leading advocate of the new airport, said the Panhandle has much to offer both Southwest and the rest of the country. “I know that as more and more people and businesses learn about the area, we’ll attract even more jobs and opportunities.”

The gathering at the airport site Wednesday had been advertised as a briefing on construction and marketing updates, but little was discussed other than the Southwest announcement.

“This is a watershed day for Northwest Florida,” Airport Authority Vice Chairman Bill Cramer said. “We are going to look back one day and see this as the day everything changed.”

Airport Authority Chairman Joe Tannehill said the new airport grew from talks among local officials 10 years ago, when the area’s current airport was losing flights and carriers were leaving.

To grow business and economic development, the region needed an “epicenter, like the new airport,” around which the area could grow. And the addition of a low-cost carrier always had been one of the primary goals, he said. “Low-fare service will turbocharge our regional tourism industry and economic development efforts,” he said.

“Southwest’s presence at the new airport will bring numerous economic benefits to the area, including new jobs and incentives for small business development,” agreed Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Monticello.

News Herald Writer Matt Dixon and Florida Freedom Newspapers Writer Dusty Ricketts contributed to this story.

Southwest at a glance

— Southwest Airlines will begin service to Panama City (PFN) in May.

—The low-cost airline will fly from Panama City to four cities, with up to two flights to each city per day.

—Tickets to the four cities will go on sale in December. The four cities have not yet been confirmed.

— Southwest serves cities from coast to coast.

— Southwest brings cheaper fares and bags-fly-free policy. The airline’s average airfare is $114.

— Tourism, political and business officials say the airline will help bring in more businesses and tourists.

— The St. Joe Co. into an agreement with Southwest Airlines. Under the deal, Southwest cannot begin service to any other airports within 80 miles of PFN for three years.

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