Southwest announces 7 new routes from D.C. Reagan (DCA)

Southwest Airlines today announced seven new routes it plans to add from Washington's Reagan National Airport (DCA).

The carrier's new routes from DCA will be:

• Chicago Midway: Six daily round-trip flights begin Aug. 10; grows to nine daily flights on Sept. 30
• Nashville: Three daily round-trip flights begin Aug. 10
• New Orleans: Two daily round-trip flights begin Aug. 10
• Tampa: Two daily round-trip flights begin Sept. 30
• Akron-Canton: Flights begin Nov. 2, schedule TBA
• Dallas Love Field: Flights begin Nov. 2, schedule TBA
• Indianapolis: Flights begin Nov. 2, schedule TBA

The carrier also plans to add flights on existing routes between DCA and Houston Hobby and St. Louis.

Southwest is adding the routes and flights from the "slots" it received as part of the merger-related divestiture from American Airlines.

"By year's end, we'll offer 44 daily departures to 14 destinations from Reagan National Airport," Ron Ricks, Southwest Airlines EVP and Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer, says in a statement announcing the DCA flights. "We've been interested in expanding at Washington National for a long time. Southwest appreciates the efforts of the U.S. Department of Justice in making this historic opportunity possible and providing us with the ability to grow at this important airport."

"Southwest looks forward to bringing more of our low-fare, large-jet, Customer-friendly service to travelers who work and live close to Reagan National," Ricks adds.

Also announced by Southwest Monday were two nonstop connections for St. Louis. The airline will add one daily round-trip flight to Los Angeles on June 8 and one to San Francisco on Sept. 30.