Southwest Airlines unveiled a handful of new routes and an expansion of flights scheduled for 2026. Mr. Bastian said the airline is expanding in cities where it already has strong presences, especially in the Southern United States.

You can book tickets now through October 31, 2026. Exact start dates were not specified for most of the routes, but the expansion highlights Southwest’s ambition to expand in cities where demand is robust. Adam Decaire, Senior Vice President of Network Planning said the airline’s added flights in both destinations that had already demonstrated a reliance on Southwest’s reliable service.

Southwest Airlines Adds New Routes From Austin

Southwest is adding new flights from Austin, Texas. These include:

• Nonstop year-round service to Memphis, Tenn.
• Saturday service to Santa Rosa, CA from December through April
• Saturday service to Knoxville, TN (seasonal)

In recent years, Austin has been one of Southwest’s fastest-growing cities. And Memphis also provides another relatively simple connection point in the South for travelers. The seasonal destinations are primarily for leisure travelers.

First International Redeye From Las Vegas

Southwest will start its first-ever international redeye service from Las Vegas. The new daily service will fly between Las Vegas and San Jose, Costa Rica.

This matters because Southwest is not generally a heavy caster of overnight international flights. Costa Rica is a tourist favorite, and this service offers travelers additional choices for traveling to Central America.

Nashville Adds Reno and Burbank

Southwest will also launch nonstop service from Nashville, Tenn., to:

• Reno, Nevada
• Burbank, California

Nashville continues to surge as a major travel market, and Southwest one has been of the airport’s largest airlines. The new services also offer better connections to the West Coast.

More Flights From San Diego and Orlando

Southwest will also boost service between San Diego and Los Cabos, Mexico beginning Oct. 1. The service will be expanded from one daily flight to two flights per day during peak travel periods. Los Cabos is a well-traveled vacation spot, and the additional flights are due to high seasonal demand.

Out of Orlando, Southwest is adding seasonal flights to:

• Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Cleveland, Ohio
• El Paso, Texas
• Memphis, Tennessee
• Louisville, Kentucky

Orlando is one of the busiest cities for Southwest, particularly with vacation travel. These extra flights are catered to the increased demand of the busy seasons.

New Service From Manchester, New Hampshire

Southwest will also start nonstop service to Nashville on Oct. 1, the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport said. The flight is scheduled to operate five days a week: Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

With the addition, Southwest will have nonstop service to five destinations from Manchester:

• Orlando
• Baltimore/Washington
• Chicago Midway
• Tampa
• Nashville

What This Means for 2026

Southwest’s 2026 plan reflects an obvious strategy:

• Expand in cities where the airline already has a strong presence
• Add new flights to their schedules when and where demand is highest
• Boost frequency on popular holiday routes
• Expand international service carefully

Rather than adding a lot of new hubs, Southwest is focusing on building up its existing network. This strategy enables the airline to keep costs under control, while providing customers with more ways to reach their destinations.

Bookings are available through late October 2026, indicating that Southwest Airlines is looking to go full steam ahead next year. The emphasis on leisure destinations, Southern cities, and high-demand routes indicates where the airline thinks the most travel demand is. As carriers set their 2026 schedules, we turn to Southwest’s latest announcement, which reflects confidence in both domestic and international leisure travel.