Southwest Airlines announced its plans to add service to yet three new destinations this year. Myrtle Beach, S.C., Eugene, ORE., and Bellingham, Washington will be the newest destinations for the airline.

Southwest Airlines has added a whopping of 17 new airports since the pandemic began, and have said that most are preforming well. Previous seasonal destinations Steamboat Springs and Telluride will now be extended through the summer of 2021 based on increased demand.

These additions are a direct result of increased result of leisure flying over business travel, which the airline hopes to capture additional revenue as they enter new markets.

Per Southwest Airlines,

I’m pleased to share with you all that today we’re announcing our intention to serve three more destinations and continue our focus on putting our aircraft to work to pursue more Customers and much-needed revenue.

And the destinations are (drum roll!) Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Eugene, Oregon; and Bellingham, Washington—three very different and appealing locations to both serve our existing Customers and places where we feel Southwest can make a real difference for local travelers.

We’re looking to start Myrtle Beach service in time for summer vacations and we expect our arrival to appeal to travelers who currently drive to this very popular coastal area in the Southeast. ‘Golf bags fly free’* should be very popular for Myrtle Beach service!

Eugene is about two hours south of Portland, and it’s ripe for the Southwest Effect, our Hospitality, and our flexible policies, with no hidden fees, and low fares.

Southwest service in Bellingham positions us just south of metro Vancouver, British Columbia. Following the reopening of the Canadian border, we expect a return of the value-minded travelers who already drive to this alternative airport to escape high fares and taxes—and that’s very, very typical for Southwest destinations. Southwest provides a great value for them.

This news comes after Southwest Airlines Announces Santa Barbara and Fresno, CA,  Southwest Airlines Announces Sarasota, Florida, Southwest Airlines Plans to Serve Chicago (O’Hare) and Houston (Bush Intercontinental), Plans to Serve Miami and Palm Springs in addition to Montrose (Telluride), all of which come in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and Southwest looking at ways to capitalize on additional revenue in new markets.

Do you think these new destinations make sense to the Southwest Airlines network make sense for the airline in the long run? Feel free to share your thoughts below.