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Southwest extends Dallas Love Field lease, adds new routes for expanded service

Southwest extends Dallas Love Field lease, adds new routes for expanded service
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Bob Jordan, President, Chief Executive Officer, & Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors Connect with Bob Jordan on LinkedIn (Opens in a new browser tab) | Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines has secured a 15-year lease extension at Dallas Love Field (DAL), ensuring its presence as the airport’s main operator through at least 2043. The agreement with the City of Dallas includes plans for infrastructure improvements to accommodate projected growth in passenger traffic and to maintain stable operating costs and customer fares.

The airline announced it will reinstate twice-daily flights from DAL to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Oklahoma City's Will Rogers International Airport (OKC) starting March 5, 2026. Both routes had been previously discontinued but are returning due to demand from travelers. OKC’s Director of Airports Jeff Mulder said: “I know Oklahoma City will be happy to hear that Dallas Love Field flights are returning. Southwest Airlines served the route until January 2020, and it has been a frequent request of local travelers to bring that flight back. We appreciate Southwest’s ongoing commitment to our community and passengers.”

In addition, three seasonal destinations—Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Portland International Airport (PDX), and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)—will become year-round routes with one daily flight each from Love Field beginning March 5, 2026. The spring schedule for 2026 is expected to feature over 200 daily departures from DAL.

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Southwest is also expanding operations at other hubs nationwide as part of a broader plan that adds new flights from airports such as Chicago Midway, Nashville, Phoenix Sky Harbor, and San Diego. McGhee Tyson Airport near Knoxville will also receive daily service connecting it to Love Field next year.

As Alaska Airlines prepares to leave DAL in 2025, only Southwest and Delta Air Lines will remain based there in 2026. In 2024, Love Field handled approximately 16 million passengers, with city officials projecting continued annual growth.

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson commented: “For over 50 years, Southwest has been the cornerstone of Dallas Love Field Airport and a key economic partner to our city… I am excited to see our partnership with Southwest move forward stronger than ever.”

Southwest Airlines was founded in Dallas in 1967 and continues to operate its largest hub at Love Field. The carrier operates a fleet of more than 800 Boeing narrowbody aircraft and has orders for over 500 additional Boeing 737 MAX jets.

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