Southwest Airlines announces second airline partner, 3 more international gateways
Southwest Airlines is closing in on its second partnership with an international airline.
Southwest on Monday said it is currently "in discussions" to launch an interline agreement next year with China Airlines, based in Taiwan.
As part of the agreement, Southwest customers would eventually be able to book China Airlines-operated flights to Taipei through its website and mobile app. Eventually, it's possible that Rapid Rewards members would be able to redeem points on transpacific flights to Taiwan.
The news of the potential Southwest-China Airlines tie-up came nearly four months after Southwest launched its first international partnership, with Icelandair.
Today, customers can use Icelandair's website or third-party tools like Expedia to book Southwest-Icelandair itineraries to Reykjavik (and even on to Europe). Expect that partnership to expand in the not-too-distant future, including with reservations available via Southwest's booking channels and Rapid Rewards redemptions.
It's safe to bet that Southwest has similar hopes for a future China Airlines tie-up, which would offer the airline its first link, of sorts, over the Pacific Ocean.
"This initial work to partner with Taiwan-based China Airlines would allow for seamless trans-Pacific journeys across the Southwest network, furthering the reach of our Vision and Purpose—to connect People with important moments in their lives," Southwest Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson said in a statement Monday.
Expanding its global reach
Last fall, when Southwest announced sweeping changes to its business model, the airline revealed it hoped to add multiple international airline partners, in hopes of offering Rapid Rewards members more redemption options.
Today, the airline operates domestic flights and short-haul international flights to places like Mexico and the Caribbean. Linking up with Icelandair and China Airlines expands the Southwest "map," so to speak.
China Airlines, for its part, flies from Taipei to five U.S. airports:
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Ontario International Airport (ONT) in Southern California
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
The carrier flies between Taiwan and the U.S. with increasingly stiff competition, due to growing networks from Taiwan-based competitors Starlux Airlines and EVA Air.
Executives from the two airlines met this week to hash out the details of the new partnership at the International Air Transport Association's General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit in India, a major annual industry gathering.
Southwest executives had told TPG in January they hoped to reveal a second international partner before the end of 2025 — a plan that seemed to come true Monday.
Southwest adds 3 new international gateways
One other bit of news Monday: Southwest said it plans to expand its Icelandair partnership to three new U.S. airports next month.
Starting July 14, customers will be able to book Southwest-Icelandair connections through:
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
That's in addition to the three gateways the two airlines launched earlier this year: Denver International Airport (DEN), Nashville International Airport (BNA) and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
Again, it's a limited tie-up for now, with no Rapid Rewards earnings or redemptions available. For now, you also can't book any Icelandair flights through Southwest's own website — only through Icelandair's channels or Expedia, Booking.com and the like.
But Southwest has said it hopes to expand the partnership and booking options to its own channels in the near future — around the same time it puts assigned seats on sale for the first time, which is expected to happen sometime between July and September.
Related reading:
- Your complete guide to maximizing Southwest Rapid Rewards
- 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
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