Southwest Airlines adds 8 new routes as it extends schedule into fall 2025
Southwest Airlines is making some interesting new additions to its route map.
The Dallas-based carrier filed plans over the weekend to add eight new domestic routes, as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by a carrier spokesperson.
The full list of new routes is available below.
Huge change in strategy: Southwest to launch assigned seats in 2026, will partner with international airlines
- Austin to San Francisco
- Nashville to Louisville
- Indianapolis to Chicago Midway
- Los Angeles to Orlando
- Orlando to Miami
- Orlando to West Palm Beach, Florida
- Orlando to Sarasota, Florida
- Phoenix to Santa Barbara, California
All of the new routes take off next summer in August 2025.
Southwest has previously flown three of the new routes, though Orlando to West Palm Beach had been long dormant, having last operated in April 2002. Coming back after a much shorter hiatus is Indianapolis to Chicago Midway, a route Southwest last flew in August 2020.
Most of the new routes will operate on a daily basis. The exceptions are Phoenix to Santa Barbara, which will only be flown on Sundays, and Nashville to Louisville, which will operate six days a week with Saturdays off.
Southwest's additions include some interesting new city pairs — especially in Florida. Four of the eight routes are from Orlando, one of Southwest's operating bases. While the city will see a new transcon to Los Angeles (which is already well served by American, Delta and United), three of the routes will be short intra-Florida services.
Two will be to South Florida (Miami and West Palm Beach), while the third will be an incredibly short 104-mile hop to Sarasota. (Odds are that you'll end up taxiing for longer than you're in the air; the flight is blocked for an hour.)
Airline insider: A behind-the-scenes look at Southwest's Dallas headquarters
Orlando to Miami is already served by American and Delta (and Spirit recently had a short stint in the market that's since been cut).
Elsewhere, Southwest's addition in Austin follows Delta's addition of the exact same route just a few weeks ago. While Southwest is the largest airline in Austin, Delta has been growing there in recent years.
Finally, the new route from Nashville to Louisville comes as Southwest seems to be refocusing its energy in the Southeast away from Atlanta and into Nashville.
Earlier this year, the airline opened its newest flight crew base in Nashville, and it plans to increase its Sunday departures from the city to its highest-ever level next year.
The airline added six new routes from Nashville in September, while it simultaneously cut 15 markets from Atlanta. Interestingly, Southwest is also trying intrastate service in Tennessee with new service from Nashville to Memphis next year.
All of these moves come as the airline recently extended its booking window to Oct. 1.
Southwest declined to provide a statement about the new routes, but it referenced its latest 8-K report filed earlier this month that provides a snippet into the carrier's plans to boost profitability.
"Tactical actions include improving network optimization and capacity rationalization, marketing and distribution evolution, and continued efforts to advance revenue management techniques," the filing says.
Related reading:
- Your complete guide to maximizing Southwest Rapid Rewards
- The best Southwest Airlines credit cards
- How to quickly earn the Southwest Companion Pass
- What is Southwest Airlines elite status worth?
- 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
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees