Southwest Airlines unveils 14-route expansion and a brand-new city: Knoxville, Tennessee
After years without adding a new destination, Southwest Airlines just announced its second new city in as many months.
Southwest will land at McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) near Knoxville, Tennessee, next spring as part of a 14-route expansion.
In addition to four new routes to TYS, the Dallas-based carrier will add 10 new routes from some of its key bases beginning in March 2026: Chicago's Midway International Airport (MDW), Nashville International Airport (BNA), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) and San Diego International Airport (SAN).
The new routes are part of Southwest's latest schedule extension from March 5, 2026 through April 6, 2026. Tickets are on sale now.
Knoxville
Southwest will land at TYS on March 5, 2026 with five daily flights:
- TYS to Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), daily
- TYS to BNA, twice daily
- TYS to Dallas Love Field (DAL), daily
- TYS to Orlando International Airport (MCO), daily
Knoxville is Southwest's third airport in Tennessee after BNA and Memphis International Airport (MEM). Knoxville, located in the western reaches of the Appalachian Mountains, is home to the largest University of Tennessee campus and convenient to attractions like Dollywood and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Some could argue that the flights mark a return to TYS for Southwest. The airline's one-time subsidiary AirTran Airways served the airport from when the carriers merged in 2011 until 2012. AirTran was fully integrated into Southwest in 2014.
Responding to Alaska in San Diego
Southwest will add seven new nonstops from SAN in March, all of which appear to be a direct response to Alaska Airlines' recent expansion at the Southern California airport.
The new daily SAN flights connect to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Eugene Airport and Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon, Kahului Airport (OGG) in Hawaii, and Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR) in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Southwest will also add two Saturday-only seasonal routes from SAN beginning March 7, 2026: Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) in Montana and Spokane International Airport (GEG) in Washington.
All of the new SAN routes compete directly with Alaska, Cirium schedules show.
Alaska seats in SAN were up 9% in the third quarter compared to last year, according to schedule data. Seats on Southwest, the airport's largest airline, were up just 2%.
Southwest will move to the new Terminal 1 at SAN when it opens on Sept. 23.
New "hub" connectors
Finally, Southwest will add three new routes that will feed new connections into its "hubs." The airline does not officially have hubs like other carriers; however, some bases are large enough that connectivity happens naturally.
The new connector routes include:
- BNA to Clinton National Airport (LIT) in Little Rock, Arkansas, twice daily
- MDW to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) twice daily
- PHX to Tucson International Airport (TUS), twice daily
All three of these routes saw fewer than 11 daily travelers in 2024, according to U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics data via Cirium. However, they will boost flight connection options for Southwest at BNA, MDW and PHX.
Bottom line
Southwest's latest expansion came just weeks after the carrier revealed St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands as its first new destination since 2021. The airline has teased at least one additional new city in the near future.
Related reading:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards: Guide to earning and redeeming points, elite status and more
- The best Southwest Airlines credit cards
- How to quickly earn the Southwest Companion Pass
- Southwest A-List status: What it is and how to earn it
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- How to change or cancel a Southwest Airlines flight
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