Southwest Airlines is sending passengers on more sunny escapes, including 11 new worldwide routes to fashionable trip hotspots for Americans craving seashores and heat climate abroad.
Data from aviation analytics agency Cirium reveals the 11 recent routes will roll out between November 2026 and June 2027.
The growth kicks off Nov. 1 with a brand-new nonstop service connecting Las Vegas (LAS) to Puerto Vallarta (PVR). The new route expands Southwest’s footprint in Sin City, where it already controls more than 41.5% of all flight operations in the airport.
In early 2026, routes to Puerto Vallarta were also added from regional hubs, such as Alaska Airlines launching continuous service from St. Louis to PVR in January.
Southwest Airlines operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet, with a smaller, mid-sized and bigger variant. Cerib – inventory.adobe.com
Nashville International Airport (BNA) gets a large worldwide increase in 2027, with Southwest launching nonstops to Liberia and in February and Aruba (AUA) in March. By June, Music City vacationers can also fly direct to Nassau (NAS) and Providenciales (PLS).
The Dallas-based service is betting large on Nashville as tourism and enterprise journey skyrocket. Southwest will be the only airline providing direct flights on all 4 routes.
Austin is getting a main improve too, with 4 new worldwide hyperlinks launching in 2027. Service to San José, Costa Rica takes off in March, adopted by June launches to Liberia, Punta Cana and Nassau.
Demand for journey to Liberia has surged by 11.8% in latest months, as North American vacationers swap the central capital for the pristine seashores and luxurious resorts of Guanacaste.
The airline also plans to roll out high-speed Starlink WiFi fleet-wide and open its first Icon Lounges in late 2027. Denver Post via Getty Images
Southwest already dominates Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), working over 40% of all flights. To cement itself, the service opened a new crew base for pilots and flight attendants at AUS in March, which is half of the airport’s broader $4 billion growth plan happening.
Punta Cana (PUJ) will also see two more direct flights from Columbus (CMH) and Pittsburgh (PIT). They will go head to head with Breeze Airways, a Utah-based low-cost service providing direct flights from the same airports.
Southwest is the world’s largest low-cost service by fleet dimension and passenger quantity. While technically a finances airline, they are working to shift gears toward a “hybrid” mannequin – mixing finances journey with perks and consolation. Southwest flies several variants of the Boeing 737 household, Boeing 737 MAX 8 being the latest, with improved gas effectivity and up to date cabin designs.
In efforts to entice big-spending premium vacationers, Southwest lately announced plans to unveil its first-ever airport lounges and improve onboard seating.
Four plush lounges are at present under building in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville. Developed in partnership with JPMorgan, the upscale areas are set to open in late 2027.
CEO Bob Jordan has beforehand acknowledged that the service loses prospects to rivals because it does not serve locations such as London or provide premium facilities, including airport lounges, but is working to develop.
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