Southwest adds 6 new routes, cuts 5 others in schedule extension
Southwest Airlines is back with another big network update.
This time, the Dallas-based carrier is debuting six new routes, as well as a handful of new red-eye markets, as part of its latest schedule extension. But it's not all good news, though, as the airline also will drop five routes.
This schedule extension covers next year's spring break travel period (through April 7, 2025), and one of Southwest's goals with this extension is to get travelers to lock in their trips now.
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Southwest's 6 new routes
To that end, the airline is adding six new routes, some of which will immediately appeal to travelers dreaming of spring break vacations.
Beginning March 8, 2025, Southwest will add Saturday-only service from Nashville International Airport (BNA) to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
These represent Southwest's second and third international routes from Nashville. The airline already flies from the city to Cancun, and now the airline wants to capture even more leisure traffic heading south of the border to destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean.
In addition to the new international routes, Southwest will add daily service from BNA to Indianapolis International Airport (IND) on March 6, 2025.
Southwest is already Nashville's biggest airline, and these three new routes will further the carrier's leading position in the city.
The carrier will also launch flights from Sacramento to Tucson on weekends beginning March 6, 2025.
And rounding out the new routes, the airline will launch two new routes from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) on March 6, 2025. The first will operate on weekdays to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE), and the second will operate on weekends to Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO).
Southwest's 5 permanent route cuts
Southwest's new routes come at the expense of five permanent cuts being filed in conjunction with the schedule extension.
The affected markets are:
- Atlanta — West Palm Beach, Florida (first operated in November 2013)
- Burbank, California — New Orleans (new route that launched in June 2024)
- Burbank — San Antonio (new route that launched in June 2024)
- New York — Tampa (first operated in June 2017)
- Long Beach, California — Kansas City, Missouri (new route that launched in March 2023)
Southwest didn't share more details about these cuts, including when they'd be made. Seemingly, these routes have been poor performers for the carrier as it more closely examines its network in the face of increased investor scrutiny.
Interestingly, three of the cuts are to routes that just launched within the last two years. Southwest usually gives routes a little longer to turn a profit, but the airline seemingly doesn't have any time to waste these days.
Additionally, Southwest will temporarily exit 15 routes on a seasonal basis. All but one of these routes were operated exclusively on Saturdays. (The exception is Fort Lauderdale to Providence.)
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- Austin — Omaha
- Albany, New York — Sarasota, Florida
- Baltimore — Oakland, California
- Boston — Orlando
- Fort Lauderdale — Islip, New York
- Fort Lauderdale — Phoenix
- Fort Lauderdale — Providence
- Houston — Fort Myers, Florida
- Little Rock, Arkansas — Phoenix
- Minneapolis-St. Paul — Tampa
- Oakland — St. Louis
- Omaha — Tampa
- Orlando — Portland, Maine
- Rochester, New York — Fort Myers
- West Palm Beach — Providence
Southwest's new red-eye, sports flights
Other highlights from Southwest's schedule extension include the addition of more red-eye flights. Earlier this summer, the carrier unveiled plans to launch its first-ever overnight services landing on Valentine's Day (quite fitting for the carrier with LUV as its stock ticker).
Now, the airline is back with more red-eye markets — Denver, San Diego and Sacramento — that will also launch March 6, 2025. These three stations join previously announced overnight flights from Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Phoenix.
Southwest's new red-eye routes include:
- Denver — Baltimore
- Las Vegas — Atlanta
- Las Vegas — Chicago (Midway International Airport)
- Las Vegas — Nashville
- Los Angeles — Chicago (Midway International Airport)
- Los Angeles — Houston
- Phoenix — Atlanta
- Phoenix — Orlando
- San Diego — Baltimore
- Sacramento — Baltimore
Furthermore, in June, Southwest announced that it would add 42 new one-off flights for the upcoming NFL season, bringing fans to their favorite matchups with nonstop flights.
In response to increased demand from professional and college football fans, Southwest has decided to add more of these unique flights to its schedule in November and December between the following markets:
- Tampa and Austin
- Dallas and Lubbock, Texas
- Omaha and Los Angeles
- Columbus, Ohio, and Chicago (Midway International Airport)
- Cleveland and New Orleans
In other sports news, Southwest will also launch seven special flights for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas from Dec. 5 to Dec. 15.
Bottom line
All of these network changes come as Southwest has been under increased scrutiny from investors for its poor financial performance recently.
To get back into the green, the airline has announced several major initiatives over the past few weeks, including the elimination of open seating, the introduction of premium extra-legroom seats and the start of overnight flights.
In terms of network, Southwest is trying to grow in markets with lots of opportunity and exiting others that aren't working or are oversaturated with competition.
Related reading:
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- How to change or cancel a Southwest Airlines flight