MILWAUKEE  -- Southwest Airlines Co. begins service from Milwaukee on Sunday.

Spokesman Brad Hawkins says the discount carrier's first flight from General Mitchell International Airport departs at 7:20 a.m. for Baltimore.

Among the festivities kicking off the airline's inaugural flight is a tailgate party at McKinley Park & Marina for the Green Bay Packers game against Minnesota.

Southwest Airlines President, Chairman and CEO Gary Kelly makes his first visit to Milwaukee on Monday to tout what the airline's presence will mean to the city.

Hawkins says Dallas-based Southwest is the nation's leading discount airline and plans 12 daily nonstop flights from Milwaukee to Baltimore, Orlando, Tampa, Kansas City, Phoenix and Las Vegas with connections to 42 other cities.