COLUMBUS – A jazz band, water cannon salute and a four-tiered layer cake wished travelers “bon voyage” early this morning at Port Columbus International Airport, when Southwest Airlines inaugurated nonstop service to Boston and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Airport and airline staff were joined by the Jazz Arts Group in Concourse A as travelers departed on the first nonstop Southwest flights to those cities. Travelers had a chance to shoot photos with life-size postcards and the cake, created by Short North Piece of Cake, which depicted panoramic views of the cities. A water cannon salute accompanied the 7:45 a.m. departure for Boston.
Southwest carries the largest percentage of Port Columbus’ 6.4 million annual passengers, airport spokeswoman Angie Tabor said.
Four new Southwest routes added this year include the April start of Dallas Love Field and Washington along with the Oakland and Boston launches, Tabor said.