The first Southwest Airlines flight from Bellingham International Airport (BLI) to Denver International Airport departed Saturday, April 15, as part of new seasonal, Saturday-only direct flights to Denver.
The flights will operate through the summer until Nov. 4. Until then, travelers will be able to depart on a flight to Denver from BLI every Saturday at 11:40 a.m. and arrive in Denver at 3:15 p.m. Return flights will leave from Denver at 10:35 p.m. and land in Bellingham at 12:25 a.m. Tickets are available for purchase on the Southwest Airlines website.
“This is a major win for Whatcom County and the millions of people living within 60 miles of Bellingham International Airport,” Port of Bellingham Executive Director Rob Fix said in a news release.
BLI currently offers nonstop southbound flights to Seattle; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Phoenix; Oakland, California; Palm Springs, California; and San Diego through Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
Fix said the new flight to Denver is an attempt to meet the demand for a direct, eastbound flight out of BLI.
United Airlines previously offered a nonstop flight from Paine Field in Everett to Denver, but it was discontinued in October 2021 — marking the end of nonstop service to Denver without flying out of major airports until now.
The Port Commission plans to continue to work with Southwest Airlines to add additional flights and destinations, said Port of Bellingham Commissioner Michael Shepard.
