Southwest Airlines Expands Summer 2026 Routes with New Destinations

Southwest Airlines has announced plans to introduce eight new routes for the summer of 2026, expanding service from key cities such as Las Vegas, Orlando, and San Diego. This expansion signifies the airline’s commitment to increasing capacity and enhancing travel options for its customers. Notably, this announcement follows Southwest’s recent addition of Alaska to its route map, with direct flights to Anchorage International Airport expected to commence in the first half of 2026.

New International Services from Las Vegas

Beginning June 4, 2026, Southwest will launch non-stop international flights from Las Vegas to popular destinations in Mexico, including Cancun, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta. The airline already serves 22 of the top 25 U.S. travel markets, as indicated by the Department of Transportation’s O&D Survey. Southwest Airlines, recognized as the largest operator of the Boeing 737 and a pioneer in low-cost aviation, will also increase flight frequencies on eight domestic routes from Las Vegas, targeting cities such as Nashville, Burbank, and Tampa.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Southwest commands over 40% of all flight operations at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), reaffirming its status as the largest airline at the airport. Adam Decaire, Senior Vice President of Network Planning and Network Operations Control at Southwest, stated, “In designing our summer 2026 schedule, we examined industry trends and identified locations where we are able to provide customers more choices when they’re booking travel.”

Enhancements at San Diego International Airport

With the recent opening of Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport (SAN), Southwest has scheduled over 134 flights on peak days during the summer of 2026. This will connect travelers to 43 destinations from San Diego. New routes launching on June 4 will include service to Boston Logan International Airport. Additionally, Southwest plans to expand its intra-state network, increasing flights to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to eight daily on peak days.

San Diego International Airport is strategically located just 2.6 nautical miles (4.8 km) from downtown San Diego, which presents unique operational challenges due to its proximity to the urban center. Between March 2024 and February 2025, Southwest maintained its position as the largest operator at SAN, offering more than 7.8 million available seats and holding a market share of 32%, significantly higher than its nearest competitor, United Airlines, at 12%.

Upcoming services from SAN include routes to Kahului, Puerto Vallarta, and Seattle/Tacoma, among others, set to commence throughout 2025 and early 2026.

Increased Capacity from Orlando

In addition to its new routes, Southwest is also enhancing capacity on 11 routes from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to both domestic and international destinations. New flights will be introduced to cities such as Austin, Nashville, and Pittsburgh, with additional daily service from Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) launching on June 4.

As part of this expansion, Southwest Airlines will also increase frequency between Austin and Indianapolis, offering up to three flights daily throughout the summer. Services to San Francisco will grow to twice daily during the week, reflecting the airline’s strategic focus on increasing connectivity.

The new services to Anchorage Ted Stevens International Airport (ANC) represent a significant milestone for Southwest, marking its entry into the Alaskan market. Scheduled flights from both Denver and Las Vegas are set to begin on May 15, 2026.

With these expansions, Southwest Airlines continues to position itself as a leader in the low-cost travel sector, striving to provide customers with more options and greater convenience as they plan their summer travel.