Southwest cuts Tampa service

TAMPA -- Southwest Airlines will reduce its service out of Tampa International Airport by 12 flights later this year.

Affected destinations will include Baltimore/Washington, Chicago, and Philadelphia, as well as Jacksonville. Prior to the announcement, Southwest had been the only airline to offer direct flights between Tampa and Jacksonville.

The changes are set to take effect Aug. 12 -- the same month that AirTran Airways, now a subsidiary of Southwest, is set to discontinue its operations from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.