After more than 150 flights were delayed Wednesday evening at San Diego International Airport, operations returned to normal on Thursday. The delays affected mostly Southwest Airlines, with some impact on United and American Airlines, and were attributed to weather conditions and computer issues.
Spirit Airlines is set to introduce nonstop flights to five new destinations from San Diego International Airport starting in April, May, and June, including Baltimore, Houston, Portland, Sacramento, and Salt Lake City. The airline's vice president of network planning cited the expansion as a way to provide affordable travel options to San Diego travelers. The move comes amidst a broader trend of airline expansion in the region, with Breeze Airways and Frontier Airlines also adding new nonstop flights to major cities.
Breeze Airways will introduce five new direct destination flights to the San Diego International Airport, including routes to Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Norfolk, Raleigh-Durham, and Pittsburgh, as well as daily one-stop flights to Providence and Hartford. Fares start at $129 one-way if purchased by Monday, and the airline is offering 35% off round-trip base fares for travel from Jan. 15 through May 22 with the promo code "GETFRESH." Breeze will operate these routes with Airbus A220-300 aircraft, offering bundled and a la carte options for travelers.
Breeze Airways, a low-cost carrier, is set to launch new routes from San Diego International Airport to Cincinnati, OH; Jacksonville, FL; Norfolk, VA; Raleigh-Durham, NC; and Pittsburgh, PA, with one-stop flights to Providence, RI, and Hartford, CT. The airline offers nonstop one-way rates as low as $129 and is currently offering promotional discounts. Breeze operates in 46 cities in 27 states and has been ranked as one of the best domestic airlines in the U.S. The airline provides Airbus A220-300 aircraft with various seating options and benefits such as no change or cancellation fees up to 15 minutes before departure.
Over 300 migrants have been staying at the San Diego International Airport as the city experiences a surge in crossers. Many of them arrive several hours or days before their scheduled flights, and local organizations believe they were transported there after being processed by Border Patrol. Volunteers are providing meals and supplies to the migrants, but the situation highlights the vulnerability of children and other vulnerable populations. The number of migrants using the airport has significantly increased in recent months, reflecting the larger humanitarian crisis at the border. The Biden administration has proposed $1.6 billion to hire more asylum officers and address the migrant crisis, emphasizing the need for congressional support in finding a long-term solution.
A Southwest Airlines pilot climbed through the cockpit window of a Sacramento-bound plane at San Diego International Airport after a customer accidentally closed the door during the boarding process. The pilot had been locked out of the cockpit, but a worker was able to open the window with a tool similar to a car door Slim Jim. The incident caused an eight-minute delay, but a passenger commended the pilot and the airline for their efficiency and dedication to service.