Southwest Airlines considers new planes for possible Europe expansion

Southwest is undergoing significant changes as part of what Jordan described as "the biggest transformation in the history of Southwest Airlines." Traditionally focused on domestic travel with open seating and no bag fees, Southwest introduced its first bag fees in May and plans to assign seats and sell extra-legroom premium seats starting January 2026.

Investor expectations are prompting these changes. Some critics argue that this shift could erode Southwest's unique position in the U.S. market. When asked about concerns over losing its distinctiveness, Jordan responded: "The strengths at Southwest are incredible and remain intact."

The airline has also been expanding its list of international partners. Existing partnerships include China Airlines, EVA Air and Icelandair. According to Jordan, additional partnerships may be announced soon.

Earlier this year, Southwest joined IATA (International Air Transport Association), signaling its intent to increase its presence in international markets.

Currently, Southwest does not operate any long-haul routes but has aircraft capable of such flights under certain conditions. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 can fly up to 4,000 miles—enough for potential routes between Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) and Frankfurt Airport (FRA). However, operational realities may require shorter routes due to fuel reserves.

Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows that Southwest’s longest current flight is from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) to Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), covering 2,917 miles.

Industry analysts have speculated that Keflavik International Airport (KEF) in Iceland could be among Southwest’s first European destinations because of existing connections with partner Icelandair.

Any move into long-haul operations will require approval from both pilots and flight attendants unions before proceeding with new routes.

"We know we have customers that want things we can't provide — like a lounge, like true premium, like long-haul international," said Jordan. He added that under his leadership Southwest would "keep pushing" to meet customer demands.