With such a huge domestic market, it is not surprising that the international arena is only a tiny part of Southwest Airlines’ considerable operation. Between September 2026 and next March, Cirium Diio data shows that only one in every 45 of the hybrid operator’s flights will cross the US border.
As usual, some context is important. Southwest’s international services are at a record high this year, exceeding the 100 departures milestone for the first time (double for both ways). In the examined period, 81 international routes are available, five of which will launch soon.
The following entries reflect what is known as of August 10, and are only for September 2026 to March 2027. As they have all been announced before, this article simply summarizes what is coming. Flights to San Juan (Puerto Rico) and St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands) are excluded as they’re places in US territories, and are thus considered domestic.
None of the airport pairs are from any of Southwest’s top five airports for international departures. The closest is Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), which ranks sixth, followed by Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), in seventh place. Then there’s Nashville International Airport (BNA), which is 14th, and John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH), in 18th place.
First time for Southwest. However, other airlines have operated before, including American West until 2007, US Airways until 2008, Sun Country until 2009, Frontier until 2021, and Alaska Airlines until February 2026
First time for Southwest. Seems USA 3000 had very limited flights in 2004
** Known as of August 10, and subject to change
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Southwest did not fly internationally from LAS until June 2026. In that month, service took off to Cancun International Airport (CUN) and Los Cabos International Airport (SJD). Flights to Puerto Vallarta start next. The planned operation to the capital of Costa Rica, which was to be Southwest’s longest international route to date, has been scrapped.
It is the only airline between LAS and CUN, SJD, and PVR. The link to the ever-popular CUN was previously served by JetBlue Airways in 2021 and 2022, Frontier Airlines in 2018 and 2019, and Volaris in 2014 and 2015. All three operators pulled out within two years. At least Southwest will benefit from its huge name in LAS and its considerable network from Sin City. When combined with the strong local market of 280 daily passengers, it should do better than the other operators.
They all ended between 2022 and 2026. Find them here!
Southwest’s Busiest Airports For International Flights
Between September 2026 and March 2027, Southwest will fly beyond the US border from 23 US airports. In the examined period, the airline’s number one airport for international operations is Orlando International Airport (MCO). 1,899 departures are available, with an average of nearly nine daily departures. Nine routes exist: Aruba, CUN, Grand Cayman, Montego Bay, Nassau, Providenciales, Punta Cana, San José, and St. Maarten.
Houston Hobby Airport (HOU) is a close second, with 1,843 departures and eight markets: Belize City, CUN, Liberia, Montego Bay, Puerto Vallarta, Punta Cana, SJD, and San José. MCO’s maximum daily offering is 11 daily services, which is exceeded by HOU and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), both of which have up to 15 daily departures (albeit only very occasionally).
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