Southwest adds seasonal MacArthur Airport flights

Southwest Airlines added five seasonal nonstop flights to its Long Island MacArthur Airport lineup last week in anticipation of spring break travel.

Southwest started 2013 with 13 flights departing from MacArthur, and will be up to 18 for February with added flights to Florida destinations: Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando and West Palm Beach.

In March, Southwest will take away one of its seasonal flights, and in April will be at 15 departures per day. By fall, the airline will have 12 flights going out of MacArthur.

Southwest spokeswoman Michelle Agnew said the fluctuations are seasonal and occur each year.

“Our service changes are all based on demand and profitability of flights,” Agnew said in an email.

Deputy Airport Commissioner Terry Hennessey said the increase in travel is a good sign for the economy.

“It’s a busier time of the year, the demand to Florida is up this time of year with the school breaks and school vacations,” Hennessey said. “It’s good news for us and again it signals that people are probably feeling better about the economy and themselves and there’s more traveling being done.”