Southwest Airlines is expanding its route network with a significant addition of new flights, particularly in key markets such as Austin, Texas; Orlando; Nashville; and San Diego. The Dallas-based carrier is introducing over a dozen new routes, with a focus on several airports where it has made substantial investments in recent years.
Nashville International Airport and Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport are emerging as major hubs, each gaining four new routes. The airline is also launching a pair of new routes to Hawaii, two more to the Caribbean, and several domestic routes that will enhance its service to the Heartland.
The new routes include flights from Las Vegas to Miami and Boston, as well as a short hop from Baltimore to Philadelphia. In total, Southwest Airlines is announcing 15 new and returning routes, covering 20 cities. All of the new flights are scheduled to launch in March, making them ideal for planning spring break getaways.
The expanded route network will help Southwest Airlines achieve its largest-ever schedules in Orlando and Austin. At Austin Bergstrom International Airport, the new schedule will enable Southwest to maintain its market lead over a rival airline, even as it faces increased competition in the Texas capital.
Southwest is also doubling down on new destinations launched over the past year, including St. Thomas and Knoxville. A few of the new routes will be familiar to frequent Southwest flyers, as the carrier previously operated some of these routes in the past.
In a unique move, Southwest Airlines will begin operating a "reverse redeye" from Las Vegas to Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in March. This westbound overnight domestic service will involve a takeoff at 2:45 a.m. in Las Vegas, with arrival set for 6:10 a.m. in Hawaii.
