Snapshot: A Look at Southwest Airlines, by the Numbers
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Southwest Airlines bridges the gap between the USA’s traditional legacy carriers and those that began flying after deregulation. Now, as it nears its 50th year of service, Southwest has not only outlasted most of its post-deregulation challengers, but has carved out a key position for domestic travelers.
It’s the largest airline domestic travelers flying within the US. And, though it started out competing with suggestive ads, it’s known today as a particularly laid-back and family-friendly company.
Southwest may be a low-cost carrier at heart, but its rapid growth this century has moved it closer to the legacy carriers it has battled over the years. In 2010, Southwest flexed its increasingly powerful muscles by announcing a deal to buy AirTran, a rapidly-growing budget carrier based in Atlanta that had begun to challenge major carriers along the East Coast. The deal closed in 2011, finally bringing Southwest into Atlanta and paving the way for it to launch international service for the first time in its history.
Here’s what else you need to know about Southwest:
Headquarters: Dallas
CEO: Gary Kelly
Destinations: 101 in 10 countries
Related: The Best Southwest Airlines Credit Card for Family Travelers
Hubs: Southwest famously does not designate cities as hubs, instead touting the power of its “point-to-point” network. Despite that, a number of Southwest’s airports function largely as hubs, facilitating connections for thousands of passengers flying between others cities. Among the most prominent to fit that bill for Southwest are Chicago Midway, Baltimore, Las Vegas and Denver. Many of Southwest’s mid-sized airports — such as St. Louis and Nashville — also facilitate a large number of connecting passengers.
Daily Departures: About 4,000
Frequent-flier Program: Rapid Rewards
Busiest Airports by Number of Southwest Passengers in 2018
- Chicago Midway (20.45 million)
- Denver (18.70 million)
- Baltimore-Washington (18.09 million)
- Las Vegas (17.95 million)
- Phoenix (15.36 million)
- Dallas Love Field (14.98 million)
- Houston Hobby (13.59 million)
- Orlando (11.14 million)
- Atlanta (10.36 million)
- Los Angeles (10.13 million)
Source: Diio by Cirium
Related: Southwest’s ‘Second Wave’ of Hawaii Expansion Is Now Underway
Busiest Airports by Average Daily Southwest Departures in 2018
- Chicago Midway (223)
- Las Vegas (199)
- Baltimore-Washington (198)
- Denver (190)
- Dallas Love Field (171)
- Phoenix (169)
- Houston Hobby (154)
- Los Angeles (118)
- Orlando (116)
- Atlanta (115)
Source: Diio by Cirium
Planes in Southwest’s Fleet
- Boeing 737 (753, including different variants of the plane)
Source: Southwest Airlines fact sheet, as of June 30, 2019
Featured photo by Jim Watson/AFP.
Related: Why the Last Row on Southwest Is the Best Place to Fly
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
WELCOME OFFER: 80,000 Points
TPG'S BONUS VALUATION*: $1,650
CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners
*Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. View our latest valuations here.
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Plus earn up to $50 in statement credits towards grocery store purchases within your first year of account opening.
- Earn 2X points on dining including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,000 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories.
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get up to $60 back on an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership through 12/31/2021, and get full access to their workout library through the Peloton app, including cardio, running, strength, yoga, and more. Take classes using a phone, tablet, or TV. No fitness equipment is required.
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.