Southwest Airlines cuts 15 destinations from Atlanta, adds 6 new Nashville routes
Southwest Airlines is making major changes to its network.
The Dallas-based carrier announced Wednesday that it is extending its schedule through June 4, 2025. As part of the extension, the carrier is cutting a slew of routes from one of its operating bases. It's also adding six new flights from Nashville International Airport (BNA).
Southwest cuts 15 Atlanta markets
Starting with the cuts, Southwest will exit a whopping 15 markets from its base at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). A carrier spokesperson confirmed that the airline will permanently exit the following markets effective April 2025:
- Cleveland
- Fort Lauderdale
- Fort Myers, Florida
- Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina
- Jackson, Mississippi
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Oklahoma City
- Omaha
- Philadelphia
- Richmond, Virginia
- Sarasota, Florida
Southwest shakeup: Carrier will begin flying with assigned seats in 2026; also will add international airline partners
The airline also filed plans to temporarily suspend Atlanta-to-Cancun, Mexico, service, but that route will return in the near future, Southwest told TPG.
Southwest says that these routes are being cut due to reduced booking patterns on many of these routes.
"We continue to optimize our network to meet Customer demand, best utilize our fleet, and maximize revenue opportunities. Decisions like these are difficult for our Company because of the effects on our People, but we have a history of more than 53 years of ensuring they are taken care of," the airline said in a statement.
In tandem with the cuts, the airline will reduce its presence at ATL from 18 to 11 gates next year. As such, the airline won't need as many employees at its Atlanta station, but all employees will be offered to transfer stations, the carrier confirmed to TPG.
Going forward, Southwest will be focused on capturing origin and destination demand from Atlanta to other popular Southwest airports, such as ones in Baltimore, Dallas, Denver and Houston.
All these changes come as the airline struggles to return to profitability amid repeated pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management.
Southwest is expected to announce a detailed plan to cut costs during its investor day on Thursday.
Southwest adds 6 new Nashville routes
It's not all cuts for Southwest, though. The airline is boosting its presence in Nashville with the addition of six new routes.
Beginning April 8, 2025, Southwest will start flying from BNA to:
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Albany, New York
- Jackson, Mississippi
- Memphis
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
Interestingly, this expansion marks the first time that Southwest will fly intra-Tennessee service. It's also the first time that Memphis has been served from Nashville on a major carrier since Delta Air Lines pulled out of the market in 2014, according to Cirium data. (That cut happened in tandem with Delta dehubbing Memphis, a base that was originally inherited as part of the Northwest Airlines merger in 2008.)
It'll be interesting to see how this 200-mile service works out for Southwest. After all, it's just a 3 1/2-hour drive between the two cities.
Value check: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?
Four of the six new routes are entirely new for Southwest. The airline used to fly between Nashville and Albuquerque in 1988 and from Nashville to Providence in 2011.
The announcement comes on the heels of the carrier opening its newest flight crew base in Nashville on May 1. In total, Southwest plans an all-time-high number of Sunday departures next April and May.
More red-eye flights
In addition to the new routes, Southwest announced that it'll debut red-eye flights on five Hawaii routes beginning in April. Adding red-eye service from Hawaii has been a long time coming for Southwest.
Earlier this year, the carrier announced its first red-eye routes in the continental U.S. It then expanded its portfolio of overnight flights to include 10 markets.
Beginning April 8, 2025, Southwest will add daily red-eye service in the following markets:
- Honolulu to Las Vegas
- Honolulu to Phoenix
- Kona, Hawaii, to Las Vegas
- Kahului/Maui, Hawaii, to Las Vegas
- Kahului/Maui to Phoenix
Adding overnight flights from Hawaii will allow the airline to offer more connecting itineraries for flyers heading to points east of the West Coast.
Related reading:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards: Complete guide to earning, redeeming and maximizing points
- 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
- How to change or cancel a Southwest Airlines flight
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.