Southwest unveils 11-route expansion across 15 cities for summer 2027

Southwest Airlines is planning its biggest flight schedule ever for next summer, with a big focus in Austin, Nashville in San Diego.The Dallas-based carrier on Friday announced an 11-route expansion that includes new service to Costa Rica, Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas.Nine of the routes are flights Southwest has never offered before.As part of its summer 2027 “route drop,” the airline will link Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to three new destinations in the Caribbean and Central America.AUS was the biggest winner overall, with a total of seven completely new or returning routes launching starting in June.Southwest Airlines planes at Nashville International Airport (BNA). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYElsewhere, Nashville International Airport (BNA) will get two new island destinations and a few additional domestic flights.And San Diego International Airport (SAN) will land new service to the Deep South, along with a host of additional flights to cities it’s already served.Southwest’s new and returning routesHere’s the rundown of the routes Southwest is launching and bringing back next summer.This new service will run during the peak summer season between June 3 and Aug. 2, 2027.RouteNotes<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Austin to Guanacaste Airport (LIR) in Liberia, Costa Rica</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Weekend service</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Austin to Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in Nassau, Bahamas</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Weekend service</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Austin to Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ)</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Weekend service</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Austin to Portland International Airport (PDX)</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Daily seasonal service; last flown in 2018</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Austin to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Seasonal Saturday service; last flown in 2023</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Austin to Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV)</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Weekend service</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Austin to Bozeman Yellowstone Airport (BZN)</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Saturday service</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Nashville to Boise Airport (BOI)</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>New route</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Nashville to Nassau</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>New route</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Nashville to Howard Hamilton Providenciales Airport (PLS), Turks and Caicos</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>New route</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>San Diego to Will Rogers International Airport (OKC) in Oklahoma City</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Seasonal Sunday service</span>Southwest on Friday also announced it would bring back seasonal service operated in 2026 from Nashville to Bozeman, Montana.Ditto for its San Diego flights to Bozeman, Pittsburgh and Columbus, Ohio.Doubling down on Austin, NashvilleIn Austin, Southwest expects to operate its largest-ever schedule next summer, with around 143 departures on peak days.Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYThe carrier has gotten plenty of competition in the Texas capital of late, with Delta Air Lines quickly adding routes at an airport it’s made one of its top focus cities. But Southwest remains the clear leader at AUS, still.Meanwhile, Southwest is planning as many as 220 daily flights in Nashville next summer.Not coincidentally, AUS and BNA are two airport where construction is already underway on inaugural Southwest airport lounges.Related reading:Your complete guide to maximizing Southwest Rapid RewardsThe best Southwest Airlines credit cardsHow to quickly earn the Southwest Companion PassSouthwest’s new seating and boarding policies: What to knowThe best credit cards to reach elite statusReverse redeye? Southwest is launching one of America’s wildest itinerariesEditorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.