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Southwest Airlines announces new routes including first Alaska flights for summer 2026

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Southwest Airlines announces new routes including first Alaska flights for summer 2026
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Dallas-based Southwest Airlines has announced plans to expand its route network for the summer of 2026, introducing eight new routes and increasing capacity from several key US airports.

The airline recently revealed that it will begin direct flights to Anchorage International Airport in Alaska, marking its entry into the state. These services from Denver and Las Vegas are scheduled to start on May 15, 2026.

Southwest also plans to launch nonstop international flights from Las Vegas next year. Previously announced flights to Cancun will begin on June 4, with additional services to Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta starting the same day. The airline currently operates flights from Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to 22 of the top 25 US travel markets. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Southwest holds over 40% of all flight operations at LAS.

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Adam Decaire, Senior Vice President of Network Planning and Network Operations Control at Southwest Airlines, stated: "We're boosting service in locations where we've always had a strong presence to offer customers even more service than ever before in those cities."

From Las Vegas, Southwest will increase frequencies on eight routes including Nashville, Burbank, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Orlando, New Orleans, Reno, and Tampa.

With Terminal 1 now open at San Diego International Airport (SAN), Southwest is planning more than 134 flights on peak days during summer 2026. The airline will serve 43 destinations from San Diego. New routes include a flight to Boston Logan International Airport launching June 4. Additionally, intra-state service between San Diego and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) will increase to eight times daily on peak days.

Between March 2024 and February 2025, Southwest was the largest operator at SAN with over 7.8 million available seats and a market share of approximately 32%, nearly three times greater than United Airlines' share.

Other new or increased services from San Diego include routes to Kahului (starting March 5), Puerto Vallarta (March 5), Santa Rosa (April 7), Seattle/Tacoma (March 5), Bozeman (seasonal from March 7), Eugene (seasonal from November 22), Omaha (seasonal from November 22), and Spokane (seasonal from March 7).

At Orlando International Airport (MCO), Southwest has added capacity on eleven routes serving both domestic and international destinations such as Austin, Nashville, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Louisville, and San Juan in Puerto Rico.

A new daily flight between Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and Seattle/Tacoma will begin June 4. Flights between Austin and Indianapolis will operate up to three times daily during summer. Service between Austin and San Francisco will increase to twice daily during weekdays.

Decaire said: "We're boosting service in locations where we've always had a strong presence to offer customers even more service than ever before in those cities."

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