Tag Archives: 737-7H4

Southwest Airlines celebrates 25 years of its bridge-building Adopt-A-Pilot® Program

Southwest Airlines celebrated 25 years of its bridge-building Adopt-A-Pilot® Program by unveiling an aircraft (737-7H4 N400WN, msn 27891) adorned with a nose decal and fuselage artwork dedicated to nearly 14,000 Pilots and half-million students that participated in the award-winning Program.

In a quarter century, Adopt-A-Pilot has impacted the lives of more than 556,000 fifth-grade students in classrooms across the country.

The aircraft (N400WN), unveiled at a celebration at the Southwest Airlines® Maintenance Hangar in Dallas, brought together fifth-grade students enrolled at a local elementary school who have “adopted” a Pilot, along with current and past participants of the Adopt-A-Pilot Program.

Southwest Airlines Pilots attend Adopt-A-Pilot 25th Anniversary celebration in Dallas.

Adopt-A-Pilot, which began in 1997, brings Southwest® Pilots into classrooms to engage students in interactive, aviation-related lessons that help define future successes, and sparks interest in aviation careers. Each school year, students in more than 1,500 classrooms across the country “adopt” Southwest Pilots who mentor students in the fifth-grade. As part of the award-winning Adopt-A-Pilot Program, students research careers and develop life skills, while Pilots underscore the importance of staying in school. The Adopt-A-Pilot curriculum is a supplementary way to educate students through aviation-themed activities related to science, geography, math, writing, and other core subjects.

N400WN

Southwest is committed to bringing America’s future leaders unique learning opportunities by committing resources and time to inspire students and help them define, articulate, and plan for future success. Students who were in classrooms which adopted Southwest Pilots have gone on to pursue careers in aviation, including:

  • Southwest First Officer Joe, who joined the Southwest Family in 2022. His fifth-grade classroom adopted a Southwest Pilot and completed the Adopt-A-Pilot curriculum in 2009.
  • Southwest Destination 225° Program Cadet Jett. His longtime Adopt-A-Pilot mentor of more than ten years, Captain Nancy, inspired him to pursue aviation.
  • High school students, Josh and Philip. They are continuing their mentorship with Southwest Pilots Wendy and Nancy to pursue pathways into professional pilot careers.
Fifth-grade students attend Adopt-A-Pilot 25th Anniversary celebration in Dallas.

Continuing its commitment to bring resources to support education and student development, Southwest announced a $10,000 donation to Ethridge Elementary School in The Colony, Texas. The school intends to use the funds to procure necessary supplies and equipment for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Fifth-grade students at Ethridge Elementary School adopted a Southwest Pilot for the 2022-2023 school year and attended the unveiling event.

N400WN

To learn more about the Southwest Adopt-A-Pilot Program, please visit Southwest.com/AdoptAPilot. 

All photos by Southwest Airlines.

Avelo Airlines adds Daytona Beach and Melbourne in Florida

Avelo Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 WL N707VL (msn 29843) BWI (Tony Storck). Image: 959538.

Avelo Airlines continues to expand in Florida.

The fast growing carrier is adding Daytona Beach and Melbourne in Florida on June 21 from Raleigh/Durham and New Haven.

Top Copyright Photo: Avelo Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 WL N707VL (msn 29843) BWI (Tony Storck). Image: 959538.

Avelo Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

Avelo Airlines aircraft photo gallery

Avelo Airlines opens a fifth base in Raleigh-Durham

Avelo Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 WL N701VL (msn 36617) BUR (Michael B. Ing). Image: 955616.

Avelo Airlines opened its fifth base on February 15 at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). The new base enables Avelo to significantly expand the affordable, convenient and reliable air service the airline introduced to North Carolina’s Research Triangle region last May.

Especially noteworthy is Avelo’s transition to Terminal 1. RDU’s original terminal represents a substantially more convenient and relaxing airport experience than its substantially larger Terminal 2. Terminal 1 offers Avelo Customers a swift curb-to-gate experience – in contrast to the significantly longer walks and TSA lines found at RDU’s Terminal 2. When travelers return from their trip, getting from their plane to baggage claim, and on their way home will be equally fast and seamless.

With the debut of Avelo’s new base, Avelo now serves seven nonstop destinations from RDU, including six new popular Florida routes. Avelo began serving Southern Connecticut’s most convenient airport, Tweed-New Haven Airport, from RDU last year. Earlier this month, Avelo initiated service to Orlando and Tampa. Beginning tomorrow, Avelo will inaugurate service to Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Sarasota-Bradenton and West Palm Beach.

Six New Nonstop Florida Destinations:

Orlando (MCO)
Effective February 2, 2023 – Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday

Tampa (TPA)
Effective February 3, 2023 – Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday

Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
Effective February 16, 2023 – Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday

Fort Myers (RSW)
Effective February 16, 2023 – Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday

Sarasota-Bradenton (SRQ)
Effective February 17, 2023 – Monday, Friday and Saturday

West Palm Beach (PBI)
Effective February 17, 2023 – Monday, Friday and Saturday

Growing Avelo at RDU

Avelo is initially basing one Boeing Next-Generation (NG) 737-700 at RDU.

Avelo is also building up its services at Wilmington, NC.

Top Copyright Photo: Avelo Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 WL N701VL (msn 36617) BUR (Michael B. Ing). Image: 955616.

Avelo Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

Southwest adds more routes from Long Beach

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 WL N230WN (msn 34592) (Colorado One) SNA (Michael B. Ing). Image: 957649.

Southwest Airlines has extended its flight schedule today through October 4, 2023, and continues adding more service and access to the airline’s network of 121 destinations across the United States, Caribbean, and Latin America.

More Flights Taking Off from Long Beach
Responding to growing demand from Customers, Southwest® is providing additional opportunities to take Long Beach travelers to more places nonstop.

Beginning DateTravel between 
Long Beach and		Frequency 
March 9, 2023Kansas City* Daily 
July 11, 2023Colorado SpringsEl Paso Daily Daily 
July 15, 2023Orlando*Saturdays 
Sept. 5, 2023Albuquerque Daily 
*Previously Announced

Southwest is able to grow its Long Beach service by being awarded additional airport slots, which will offer up to 45 daily departures from Long Beach to 22 destinations across the airline’s expansive network.

Seasonal Additions for Late Summer and Early Fall

Southwest is adding new seasonal routes for travelers booking late summer and early fall escapes. Beginning Sept. 9, 2023, Customers can book nonstop service on Saturdays between Austin and Jacksonville, Fla., and between El Paso and Orlando.

Top Copyright Photo: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 WL N230WN (msn 34592) (Colorado One) SNA (Michael B. Ing). Image: 957649.

Southwest Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

Avelo Airlines starts Wilmington, DE operations today

Avelo Airlines takes flight for the first time today from Wilmington Airport (ILG).

Avelo Airlines’ inaugural flight departed for Orlando at 10:00 a.m. ET — the first of five nonstop Florida destinations Avelo begins serving this week.

Avelo’s new ILG base will enable nonstop flights to five popular Florida destinations: Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Fort Myers(RSW), Orlando (MCO), Tampa (TPA) and West Palm Beach (PBI). Avelo will fly to Fort Lauderdale on Thursdays and Sundays; Fort Myers on Mondays and Fridays; Orlando on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays; Tampa on Thursdays and Sundays; and West Palm Beach on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Routes from Wilmington, DE:

Top Copyright Photo: Avelo Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 WL N701VL (msn 36617) LGB (Michael Carter). Image: 954968.

Avelo Airlines aircraft photo gallery: