Southwest Airlines to announce Charleston flights

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Southwest Airlines is expanding its schedule in South Carolina with service to Charleston.

Airline officials gather Wednesday at Charleston International Airport to announce the specific flights that start serving the city next year.

The discount carrier announced earlier this year it would begin service to Charleston and Greenville-Spartanburg in 2011. The airline and local tourism officials have been discussing in recent months which cities to link to Charleston.

Tourism officials have estimated Southwest service to Charleston will save travelers an estimated $180 million a year in air fares. South Carolina’s coast is the catalyst for the state’s $18 billion tourism industry.