Don't want to drive from Memphis to Nashville? A new Southwest flight will take you there

An airline is set to start a route between two of Tennessee’s major cities.

Southwest Airlines has announced plans to offer nonstop service between Memphis International Airport (MEM) and Nashville International Airport (BNA) starting April 8.

“This is a very exciting development for Southwest to connect Memphis to Nashville,” Michael Keeney, chairman of the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority Board of Commissioners, said in a release. “We know that this will provide travelers with a quick and efficient alternative to driving. We look forward to Southwest’s continued growth at MEM.”

Glen Thomas is the Memphis and Shelby County Airport Authority communications director. He told The Commercial Appeal on Thursday that this will be the only service between MEM and BNA. Delta served the route until January 2014. Southern Airways served it until September 2020.

With the Nashville flight next spring, Southwest will serve 10 destinations from MEM , including Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Orlando, Phoenix, Tampa and Las Vegas starting Oct. 3.

"We're looking forward to bringing our first scheduled service between the two cities (Memphis and Nashville), enabling easier access to both our network and Nashville," said Dan Landson, public relations advisor at Southwest Airlines, in an email statement to The Commercial Appeal.

Southwest's Memphis-to-Nashville flight schedule

Memphis to Nashville

Departs: 2:45 p.m. (CT)

Arrives: 3:35 p.m. (CT)

Nashville to Memphis

Departs: 1:15 p.m. (CT)

Arrives: 2:10 p.m. (CT)

More: Memphis Airport offers nonstop flights to 32 destinations. Which see the most travelers?

Corey Davis is the Collierville and Germantown reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Corey.Davis@commercialappeal.com or 901-293-1610 .

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Don't want to drive from Memphis to Nashville? A new Southwest flight will take you there