Southwest Airlines celebrates 50-year ‘love affair’ with Harlingen and the RGV

HARLINGEN, Texas – Southwest Airlines has been flying in and out of Harlingen for 50 years.

Valley International Airport celebrated the anniversary with the community on Feb. 11. The event attracted airline executives and staff, elected officials, civic leaders, and frequent fliers. 

Southwest Airlines began service to Harlingen on Feb. 11, 1975, marking the airline’s first venture outside of its original route structure connecting Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio. The story goes that the airline first approached Brownsville and McAllen but both airports rebuffed them because their existing carriers did not fancy the competition. VIA said yes and the rest, as they say, is history.

“It’s 50 years of love and we love being here,” said Steve Goldberg, senior vice president of Southwest Airlines.

Marv Esterly, aviation director for VIA, agreed. “Valley International Airport and Southwest Airlines are joined at the hip,” Esterly said.

The Rio Grande Guardian secured video interviews with four leaders at the event:

Marv Esterly

Aviation Director for Valley International Airport

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Steve Goldberg

Senior Vice President of Southwest Airlines

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George McShan

Board Chairman, Valley International Airport

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Orlando Campos

CEO, Harlingen Economic Development Corporation 

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Photo credit: Valley International Airport.

Blast from the Past

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Southwest Airlines issued a press release in February 11, 2005, to celebrate 30 years of flying in and out of Harlingen.

Here it is:

HARLINGEN, TX – Feb. 11, 2005 – Southwest Airlines executives and Employees opened their hearts to community leaders and airport patrons today in celebration of the airline’s 30th Anniversary at Valley International Airport.

Southwest Airlines began service to Harlingen/Rio Grande Valley on Feb. 11, 1975, marking the airline’s first venture outside of its now legendary “Texas Triangle,” Southwest’s original route structure connecting Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio.

“The city of Harlingen believed in us when nobody else did, and now look at us,” said Colleen Barrett, President of Southwest Airlines. “I am so grateful to the city of Harlingen for supporting us when we needed you most, and I am so proud of our tremendous Employees who strive to return the favor everyday, by pouring their heart and soul into serving our Customers.”

Southwest Airlines is celebrating its landmark anniversary today with the unveiling of a mural honoring the airline’s 30-year love affair with the Rio Grande Valley. Additional elements of today’s celebration included Valentine’s Day decorations and Southwest Airlines Employees serving heart-shaped cookies to Valley International patrons.

“Our relationship with Valley International Airport is still young at heart,” said Gary Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of Southwest Airlines. “We look forward to many more years of success here in the Rio Grande Valley.”

Today, Southwest offers 12 daily nonstop flights from Harlingen/Rio Grande Valley to three cities with additional direct or connecting service to 30 cities across the country. Southwest Airlines is currently the largest air carrier serving Valley International Airport with nearly 80 percent of the market share.

“Our relationship with Southwest Airlines has been a fruitful one,” said Greg Powers, Chairman of Valley International Airport Board. “We are pleased to be celebrating this special day with our friends at Southwest Airlines.”

Harlingen’s Valley International Airport has a service area (within 40 miles of Harlingen) with more than two million citizens in the Lower Grande Valley and Northern Mexico. The airport lies midway between Brownsville and McAllen, and offers an attractive border-crossing option via the Free Trade Bridge and Los Indios.

Southwest Airlines is the nation’s largest air carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned currently serving 60 airports in 31 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest Airlines operates 2,900 flights a day and has 32,000 Employees systemwide.

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