Southwest Airlines Adds 11 Routes for Summer 2027: What’s New
Southwest Airlines is launching its largest-ever summer schedule in 2027, adding 11 new and returning routes from Austin, Nashville and San Diego.
By The Aviation Hub
3 min read
Southwest Airlines is expanding its network with 11 new and returning routes for summer 2027, anchored by major growth at Austin, Nashville and San Diego. According to Aviation A2Z, the carrier describes the resulting schedule as its largest-ever for the summer season.
Nine of the eleven routes are services Southwest has not previously operated, with the remainder being seasonal returns. Most flights are scheduled to operate between 3 June and 2 August 2027, targeting the peak summer travel window.
What Southwest Airlines Is Adding at Austin
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) receives the largest share of the expansion, with seven new or returning routes, as Aviation A2Z reports.
Weekend flights will launch from AUS to Guanacaste Airport (LIR) in Liberia, Costa Rica, Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in Nassau, Bahamas, and Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) in the Dominican Republic. Those three additions give Austin its first Southwest connections into the Caribbean and Central America.
The airline will also restore daily seasonal service between Austin and Portland International Airport (PDX), a route it last operated in 2018. Additional seasonal or weekend services will connect Austin with Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) and Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN).
New Routes and Capacity at Nashville
Nashville International Airport (BNA) gains three new routes: service to Boise Airport (BOI), Nassau (NAS) and Providenciales Airport (PLS) in Turks and Caicos. Southwest will also bring back the seasonal Nashville to Bozeman service that operated in 2026, according to Aviation A2Z.
On peak summer days, Southwest plans to operate as many as 220 daily flights from BNA, reinforcing Nashville's role as a key base for the carrier's network growth.
San Diego Gains Oklahoma City and Returning Services
San Diego International Airport (SAN) will receive new seasonal Sunday service to Will Rogers International Airport (OKC) in Oklahoma City, giving travellers a direct link between Southern California and Oklahoma. Aviation A2Z notes that The Points Guy flagged the addition.
Southwest will also restore several seasonal routes from SAN that operated in 2026, including services to Bozeman, Pittsburgh and Columbus, Ohio.
Southwest Airlines' Biggest Summer Schedule on Record
At AUS, Southwest expects to operate around 143 departures on peak days next summer, its largest-ever schedule at that airport. The airline continues to hold a major position in Austin despite growing competition from other carriers at the airport.
Southwest is also preparing to open a new airport lounge at AUS alongside the expanded flight schedule, Aviation A2Z reports.
Taken together, the eleven routes strengthen Southwest's reach across leisure markets in the Caribbean, Central America and several domestic destinations that see strong summer demand.
You can explore Southwest Airlines' full route network using our Airline Search tool.
The Bottom Line
This is a significant step for Southwest as it bets on leisure travel demand remaining strong through summer 2027. Austin and Nashville are doing the heavy lifting, with AUS alone accounting for seven of the eleven routes. The international additions, covering Costa Rica, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and Turks and Caicos, show the carrier leaning into sun-and-sea markets where yields have been relatively resilient.
Whether the schedule translates into strong load factors will depend on how the broader travel market develops. For now, Southwest has signalled confidence by committing to its largest-ever summer programme.
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