close
close
Info Update

Southwest Airlines adds 6 flights in latest network update but cancels 5

Cormac
Southwest Airlines adds 6 flights in latest network update but cancels 5

Summary

  • Southwest Airlines is adding six new routes to popular spring break destinations in March 2025.
  • The airline is discontinuing five existing routes, including flights to West Palm Beach and New Orleans.
  • For the first time in its 53-year history, Southwest is switching to seat reservations and introducing night flights.



Southwest Airlines has changed its route network and operating model. The latest change is the introduction of six brand new routes. However, five other existing routes will also be canceled.

The schedule extends through April 7 next year to cover the spring break travel period, which is one of the busiest and most lucrative times for airlines in the United States.


Out with the old, in with the new

According to The Points Guy, the new routes are all popular spring break destinations, and they will launch in March 2025, just in time for travelers to book flights for the holidays.

The new routes that Southwest Airlines is introducing are in chronological order:


  • March 6:
    • From Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE).
    • From Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO).
    • From Nashville International Airport (BNA) to Indianapolis International Airport (IND).
    • From Sacramento International Airport (SMF) to Tucson International Airport (TUS).

Flights from AUS to MKE operate on weekdays, while flights to RNO operate on weekends.

  • March 8:
    • Nashville International Airport (BNA) to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
    • Nashville International Airport (BNA) to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

The two new international flights will operate once a week on Saturdays.

Southwest already offers international flights from BNA to Cancun and hopes to attract more leisure travelers by adding flights to Mexico and the Caribbean. Adding the regional route from IND to BNA also helps increase traffic to their international destinations. Southwest is now Nashville’s largest airline and the addition of these new destinations only further solidifies their position at the airport.


To make room for these new routes, older routes, some of which have been in operation for a long time, will be dismantled. The list is as follows:

  • Atlanta to West Palm Beach, Florida
  • Burbank to New Orleans
  • From Burbank to San Antonio
  • From New York to Tampa
  • From Long Beach to Kansas City, Missouri

Unfortunately, the airline has not mentioned when and why these destinations will be cancelled. However, it is most likely due to a lack of traffic, even though three of the five routes have only been in operation for less than two years. Airlines are quick to cancel routes that do not meet their expectations as competition increases and margins become thinner.

Southwest is also temporarily suspending operations on 15 other routes. Most of these routes were operated only once a week, on Saturdays.


Further changes

Assigned seats

Last month, Southwest announced a groundbreaking change: the end of “open” seating. The budget airline famously avoided assigned seating for decades, but has now aligned with industry standards and will offer assigned seating starting next year.

Southwest 737 MAX 8 in flight

Photo: Dorengo5 | Shutterstock

The change means passengers can pay extra to choose their preferred seat, but this comes at an additional cost. This is one of the main ways airlines make money, and Southwest can now benefit from this arrangement.

Night flights

In its 53 years of existence, Southwest has not operated a single night flight. However, this will change starting in February next year. The airline has introduced a list of five long-haul transcontinental routes that pass through multiple time zones. These are:


  • Los Angeles-Baltimore: 21:30-05:20+1
  • Las Vegas-Baltimore: 22:00-05:30+1
  • Las Vegas-Orlando: 22:50-06:05+1
  • Phoenix-Baltimore: 23:05-05:10+1
  • Los Angeles-Nashville: 23:45-06:00+1

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 taking off

Related

Elliott strategy is wrong for Southwest: Former CEO of United Airlines explains why

Former United CEO advises Southwest to stick to its new course.

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *