Southwest adding Fiesta Bowl flights

Dawn Gilbertson | The Republic | azcentral.com

Southwest Airlines is adding flights to Phoenix for the Fiesta Bowl.

The airline, which has one of its busiest operations at Sky Harbor International Airport, is adding flights between Phoenix and Columbus, Ohio, and Chicago on Dec. 31, Jan. 1 and Jan. 3.

Columbus is home to Ohio State University, which will play Notre Dame in the Jan. 1 game at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Southwest doesn't serve South Bend., Ind., but Chicago is just 90 miles away.

As with game tickets, plane tickets to the Fiesta Bowl aren't cheap. Roundtrip fares on Southwest between Columbus and Phoenix are about $1,000 for a Dec. 31 departure and Jan. 3 return. Flights to and from Chicago, where Southwest has a major hub and more service, are running nearly $800 round trip on those dates.

The bowl match up was announced Sunday.