Southwest to launch nonstop service to Chicago

Spokane International Airport will mark Southwest Airlines' first nonstop flight to Chicago's Midway International Airport on Sunday with a little celebration, Windy City-style.

At the gate, just prior to their 12:45 p.m. departure, the passengers on the inaugural flight will experience the sights and sounds of Chicago - a slice of a deep dish "Chicago" style pizza and live jazz music from local artists Nicholas Schauer and Charles Swanson. Southwest Airlines employees will be dressed in Blues Brothers hats and glasses as they prepare for boarding.

After pushing back from the gate, Spokane International Airport's Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Department will position their equipment on either side of the aircraft and form a water arch for the aircraft to taxi under, which is a traditional send-off to commemorate inaugural flights.

The new daily nonstop service is scheduled to operate seasonally through the summer months and conclude Sept. 7. Southwest Airlines has served the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene region since 1994 and also provides daily service to Boise, Denver, Las Vegas, Oakland, and Phoenix.