Nelson's News jumps aboard Southwest's first flight out of Atlanta

ATLANTA,None — Southwest has finally landed in Atlanta!

The long-awaited move by the Dallas-based airline brought Southwest’s open seating and free checked bags to the country’s busiest airport.

The airline officially began flying out of Atlanta on Sunday morning and asked Nelson's News to join in on the fun.

The airline currently offers flights to Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Chicago Midway, Denver and Houston Hobby. Southwest said it will add nonstop service from Atlanta to Las Vegas and Phoenix on March 10, to Los Angeles on June 10 and to Louisville, Norfolk/Virginia Beach and Seattle on Aug. 12.

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Nelson's News jumped aboard the 6 a.m. flight to Baltimore.

Southwest’s arrival in Atlanta is part of its buyout of AirTran Airways, which will culminate with the elimination of AirTran over the next two years as Southwest gradually begins to take over AirTran’s planes later this year. Atlanta is the 73rd city in Southwest’s system.

Here's the raw video of the first departure.

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The airline will have three gates in concourse C and will employ 134 people at Hartsfield-Jackson.

WSBTV