Southwest Airlines has begun service at Santa Rosa’s Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport and is pairing the launch with a new perk for wine travellers. Starting 24 April, the airline will allow customers to check 1 case of wine at no extra cost from select West Coast locations through its new Sip and Ship program.
The new Santa Rosa service connects Sonoma County nonstop with San Diego, Las Vegas, Denver and Burbank, expanding Southwest’s intra-California network and adding a new access point to one of the state’s best-known wine regions. The airline says the move is designed to give travellers more convenient access to wine country while making it easier to bring purchases home.
Southwest says the San Diego and Las Vegas routes are now operating daily, with 2 San Diego roundtrips on peak days. Burbank is initially operating 5 days a week, while Denver is operating on Saturdays.
The Sip and Ship program allows each customer to check 1 case of wine free of charge, provided it is packed in a standard wine shipping box or wine suitcase that meets checked baggage requirements. The offer is aimed at travellers visiting wine country who want to return home with bottles purchased during their trip.
“We’re excited to open the door to more of California’s incredible destinations, especially the stunning wine region of Sonoma County, as we add our 14th airport to our already best-in-industry intra-California service,” said Andrew Watterson, Chief Operating Officer at Southwest Airlines.
He added: “By adding service to Sonoma County Airport and launching Sip and Ship, we’re offering our Customers even more convenience and an opportunity to continuing sipping and savoring their time in wine country.”
The Santa Rosa launch is part of a broader network expansion for the carrier. Southwest says it has recently opened service in St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands, Knoxville, Tennessee, and St. Maarten, which also launched on 7 April, with Anchorage scheduled to open in May.
The airline says the wine check-in offer complements that growth by adding a travel benefit tied directly to the destination experience. For Sonoma County, the new flights and luggage perk are likely to strengthen links between air access and wine tourism, particularly for travellers from major western US markets.
Southwest’s arrival also adds another airline option for visitors planning short breaks, regional holidays and wine-focused trips in northern California. For passengers, the combination of nonstop service and free wine check-in may make Santa Rosa a more attractive gateway to Sonoma County.
