Southwest celebrates 20 years at Reno-Tahoe Airport
By Kara Lapoint, Reno Gazette-Journal
When Southwest Airlines first began service at Reno-Tahoe International Airport 20 years ago, it operated 12 nonstop flights to two cities, Las Vegas and Oakland, with just 15 employees.
Today, the airline runs 28 non-stops from Reno-Tahoe to 12 different cities, with connecting service to 53 cities. It operates out of four gates with about 120 employees — seven of whom have been there all 20 years.
Monday marks the 20-year anniversary of Southwest’s service at RTI.
Providing 22,914 flights to and from Reno-Tahoe in the past year alone, Southwest now accounts for 53 percent of the airport’s total flights.
In a poll posted on RGJ.com last week, 82.6 percent of voters said they use Southwest Airlines when flying from Reno-Tahoe.
Gustavo Johnson, a student at the University of Nevada, Reno, said he uses the airline to travel home to Salt Lake City because it offers a nonstop flight, competitive airfare, free baggage and great customer service.
