Southwest Airlines expands international network with 11 new nonstop routes

Southwest Airlines is expanding its international network with 11 new nonstop routes connecting five US cities to leisure destinations across Mexico, Central America and the West Indies.

The expansion focuses heavily on Nashville and Austin, with each airport securing four direct international services scheduled to launch between February and June 2027. Las Vegas, Columbus and Pittsburgh will also receive new routes, with the earliest service taking off in November 2026.

Full list of new Southwest Airlines international routes

Heavy investment in Austin and Nashville

The additions reflect Southwest's ongoing investment in Austin and Nashville, where demand from tourist and business travellers continues to grow.

At Austin Bergstrom International Airport, Southwest already commands more than 40% of all flights. The carrier established a permanent crew base for pilots and flight attendants at the airport in March, and the four new international flights will complement 53 existing domestic and international routes. The move aligns with the airport's ongoing $4 billion expansion project.

In Nashville, Southwest will be the sole operator on all four of its new international routes, expanding its reach into Costa Rica, Aruba, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Fleet and competition details

All 11 routes will be operated using Boeing 737 family aircraft. Southwest is the world's largest operator of the type, with more than 800 Boeing 737 jets in service.

Southwest will face no direct competition on nine of the 11 new services. The exceptions are its routes from Columbus and Pittsburgh to Punta Cana, where Utah-based low-cost carrier Breeze Airways is scheduled to launch competing flights in January 2027.