Southwest Airlines Co. is embarking on a new chapter in a partnership with Southern California travellers. The departure of Southwest Flight 6920 to Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR), Liberia/Guanacaste, Costa Rica makes Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Southwest's 13th mainland gateway serving Latin America and the Caribbean.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti celebrated Southwest's inaugural international service alongside Los Angeles World Airports CEO Deborah Flint and Southwest Airlines Vice President Corporate Planning and Financial Planning and Analysis Paul Cullen.

"Connecting Los Angeles to Costa Rica's growing resort and ecotourism region brings to the market a value only Southwest can offer," said Cullen. "Our service to Liberia/Guanacaste marks the beginning of our international story here at LAX, as we continue to explore more destinations for our L.A. Basin Customers."

"Today, the first Southwest flight destined for Costa Rica will depart from LAX, our city's economic engine and gateway to the world," said Mayor Garcetti. "The airline's first international route out of L.A. will strengthen the exchange of cultures and commerce that makes this such a diverse, and dynamic, global city."

Southwest Airlines began flying to California in 1982 and now serves nine airports in the Golden State, with service beginning at its tenth California airport, Long Beach (LGB), on June 5. Offering more daily departures in California than any other airline, 324 of those flights will take off and land within the state this summer, connecting 20 unique city-pair combinations within California. Southwest's ten California airports will offer Customers a combined peak weekday schedule of 683 departures a day to destinations across the United States, Mexico, and Costa Rica.

The carrier offers Southern California Customers international service from Orange County/Santa Ana (SNA) and LAX. Southwest first began serving Liberia/Guanacaste, Costa Rica, on Nov. 1, 2015, from Houston Hobby's brand new five-gate international terminal.

For more information on the Southwest Airlines flights visit southwest.com

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