RDU Airport, NC – Southwest Airlines announced this week it will offer daily nonstop service between Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Fort Lauderdale beginning February 4, 2008. With the announcement of the year-round service, the airline will offer 32 daily departures from RDU to eight destinations.

Fort Lauderdale is a gateway to South Florida, which includes Miami and West Palm Beach. In addition to leisure attractions in the South Florida area, business synergies exist between this region of Florida and RDU. Each market rates as one of the top places to do business and for job growth by various business publications.

“We are pleased to see expanded service to South Florida,” said Teresa Damiano, RDU’s director of marketing. “The Fort Lauderdale area has needed additional service for several years. This recent announcement by Southwest offers more choices, which results in good pricing and more schedule options for the RDU customer.”

Approximately 400 people a day travel between South Florida and the immediate region served by RDU. South Florida has been an underserved nonstop market since the termination of Midway Airlines operations in fall 2001.

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