Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport and Southwest Airlines will offer nonstop service from the Magical City to Nashville and Phoenix. The change comes at a time when the low-cost carrier is reportedly conducting market research to determine additional destinations to fly to.

“This is an opportunity to show Southwest Airlines that the region can and will support additional nonstop service,” said Ron Mathews, president and CEO of the Birmingham Airport Authority. “With more passengers departing from the airport and a strong economic outlook for the region, there is every reason to be optimistic about future growth.”

Direct flights to Nashville operate from November through early January.

Southwest Airlines will also offer nonstop service from Birmingham-Shuttlesworth to Milwaukee for travelers attending the Alabama-Wisconsin football game in September.

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth also offers nonstop service to 20 airports in 17 cities across the United States.

Austin Shipley is a Yellow Hammer News staff writer. X @ShipleyAusten