Mississippi vacay

Low-cost airline launches seasonal nonstop from Austin to sunny Gulf Coast port

Sun Country will offer seasonal nonstop flights to Mississippi's Gulf Coast.

Sun Country Airlines hopes to sweeten the pot for travelers looking for an inexpensive flight from Austin to one of the largest gaming destinations in the country.

The Minneapolis-Saint Paul-based airline, which operates out of the Barbara Jordan Terminal, announced on February 26 two seasonal nonstop flights from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport in Mississippi.

"We’re excited to add these routes to our network and bring more passengers to experience this great leisure destination, a premier area for casino gaming that also boasts miles of beaches and beautiful golf courses,” Sun Country chief commercial officer Ted Botimer said in a release. “Our focus on low fares and customer service has been a great fit for tourists visiting this market and we look forward to our continued partnership with the Gulfport-Biloxi Regional Airport Authority.”

The new flights will be offered twice a week — Mondays and Fridays — July 19 through December 16. Monday flights will depart Austin at 10:10 am and arrive at Gulfport-Biloxi at 11:40 am, while flights departing the Gulf Coast will leave for Austin at 5:35 pm. and arrive at 7:15 pm. One-way flights with Sun Country could cost as little as $59.

Tickets went on sale beginning February 26. As of press time, one-way flights were priced between $58-$78.

With the newest routes, Sun Country, which served over 25,000 passengers from ABIA in 2018, will offer seasonal nonstop flights from Austin to Gulfport-Biloxi, Cancun, and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Not this again

Winter Storm Warning: School closures, cold weather shelters, and how to prepare in Central Texas

Photo by Cameron Gibson on Unsplash

A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for Austin and several surrounding areas from 9 am Monday, January 30, through noon on Wednesday, February 1.

A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for a majority of Central Texas from 9 am.Monday, January 30, until 12 pm Wednesday, February 1. A Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect for Fayette County for the same time period.

A very winter-like week is ahead of us here in Central Texas. This will include a big drop in temperatures and also the chance for some freezing rain and icing issues. For a play-by-play forecast, head to KVUE's detailed report on the next few days of expected inclement weather, or check out their winter preparedness guide for what to do if the forecast changes.

Essentially, we have several rounds of possible freezing rain and drizzle to monitor. With each, the highest likelihood of icing issues will be across the Hill Country. However, even in the Austin metro and I-35 corridor, we'll need to keep an eye on things closely, especially with the round that moves in on Wednesday.

Forecast models have been trending colder with higher ice accumulation totals possible. As of Monday morning, the ice accumulation forecast calls for anywhere from a quarter-inch to a half-inch along and west of I-35. This would mean hazardous travel conditions and the potential for power outages.

As a result of the weather, schools across the area are cancelling activities and releasing students early. KVUE has collected a list of school closures and delays and will continue to update the list in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the City of Austin has already activated cold weather shelters for Monday and Tuesday in anticipation of overnight temperatures in the mid-30s. The City – along with Travis County, Capital Metro and other local service providers – activates the plan when temperatures are predicated to be near or below freezing.

Individuals in need of shelter are asked to report to One Texas Center, located at 505 Barton Springs Road, between 6 pm and 8 pm each day. From there, individuals seeking shelter will be taken by CapMetro buses to the cold weather shelter locations.

Read the full versions of these stories and watch the videos at KVUE.com.