Southwest Airlines: Airports And Destinations Unveiled

Southwest Airlines, founded in 1966, has grown from a small airline serving a Texas Triangle network to a major airline serving over 100 destinations in 42 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. The airline has expanded to international destinations, with its first international flights taking off in 2014 to Aruba, Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Nassau, Bahamas. Southwest Airlines has a unique point-to-point system and a large presence in certain airports, making it a popular choice for travellers.

Southwest Airlines' most popular destinations

Southwest Airlines has come a long way since its founding in 1966, when it was intended to operate as an intrastate airline flying within Texas. In the 1990s, it began servicing the East and Southeast, and in 2006 it expanded to Denver, which is now its most popular destination. As of 2024, Southwest Airlines flies to over 100 destinations, including 42 US states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Some of the most popular destinations include:

• Oahu, Hawaii: With its stunning landscape, towering ridges, blue waters, volcanoes, and palm trees, Hawaii is a tropical paradise.
• San Diego, California: San Diego offers a great mix of beaches, dining, shopping, and nature spots. It also has charming small towns nearby, like Balboa Island.
• Savannah, Georgia: Known for its Spanish moss-draped live oak trees and 22 city squares, Savannah offers a relaxed, Southern vibe.
• Portland, Oregon: Portland provides easy access to the beautiful Oregon coast and the Willamette Valley for wine tasting.
• Albuquerque, New Mexico: With its proximity to unique towns like Santa Fe and Santa Ana Pueblo, Albuquerque makes for a great year-round destination.
• Salt Lake City, Utah: A great destination across all seasons, with winter sports in Park City and lush, green summers.

Southwest's international destinations

Southwest Airlines was founded in 1966 by Herbert Kelleher and Rollin King and initially planned to operate as an airline flying within Texas. By 1979, Southwest began flying to adjacent states and, in the 1990s, expanded to the East and Southeast.

Unlike most other U.S. airlines, Southwest does not fly outside North America and does not fly to Canada due to its payment system not being set up for Canadian dollars. However, Southwest Airlines has expanded its reach to various international destinations in recent years.

On April 19, 2012, Southwest took its first steps towards international service by signing a contract with the Amadeus IT Group. This led to the debut of their international reservation system on January 27, 2014, when the first international flights went on sale.

On July 1, 2014, Southwest Airlines operated its first international flights to Aruba, Montego Bay in Jamaica, and Nassau in the Bahamas. The airline has since expanded its international destinations to include Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. These include San Juan, Puerto Rico, where travellers can explore the Walled City of the Island of Enchantment and experience the rich culture of this ancient capital city.

In addition to its tropical destinations, Southwest Airlines has also established a presence in major cities. They have built and expanded international terminals at several airports, including William P. Hobby Airport, Fort Lauderdale, and Baltimore/Washington International Airport. As of January 2024, Southwest Airlines serves over 100 destinations, with a focus on providing an extensive network within the United States and expanding its reach to nearby regions.

Southwest's domestic destinations

Southwest Airlines, founded in 1966, initially planned to operate as an airline flying within the state of Texas. By 1975, the airline had expanded its operations to other cities in Texas, and in 1979, it began flying to adjacent states. The airline now serves over 100 domestic destinations and 14 international destinations in 12 countries, as of March 2025.

The airline has a unique point-to-point system with focus cities, which means that it does not use the "hub and spoke" system like other major airlines. This allows Southwest to have a high percentage of local passengers, with an average of 80% of passengers being local and only 20% being connecting passengers.

Some of the most popular domestic routes for Southwest include:

• Phoenix to Denver
• Denver to Phoenix
• Dallas to Houston
• Houston to Dallas
• Honolulu to Kahului
• Sacramento to San Diego
• Las Vegas to Phoenix
• Las Vegas to San Diego
• San Diego to Las Vegas
• Orlando to Baltimore/Washington

In addition to these popular domestic routes, Southwest Airlines has recently expanded its international presence. The airline's first international flights began on July 1, 2014, to Aruba, Montego Bay in Jamaica, and Nassau in the Bahamas. Southwest has also built international terminals at William P. Hobby Airport and Fort Lauderdale, which opened in 2015 and 2017, respectively. Despite its expansion, Southwest does not fly outside of North America and does not currently serve the areas of New Jersey, North Dakota, South Dakota, or West Virginia.

Southwest's busiest airports

Southwest Airlines was founded in 1966 by Herbert Kelleher and Rollin King and initially flew within the state of Texas. By 1979, Southwest began flying to adjacent states, and in the 1990s, it expanded to the East and Southeast. Today, Southwest Airlines serves over 100 destinations in 42 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Notably, Southwest does not fly outside of North America.

As of January 2024, Southwest operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet, making it the fourth-largest commercial airline fleet globally and the largest 737 operator. The airline has nearly 500 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on order. Southwest's busiest airport is Denver, which became a destination in 2006.

In terms of specific airports, Southwest has a notable presence in several focus cities. For example, in the Los Angeles metro area, Los Angeles International Airport serves as a base, while secondary airports like Burbank, Long Beach, Santa Ana, and Ontario have more limited operations. Additionally, Southwest has built international terminals at William P. Hobby Airport (opened in 2015) and Fort Lauderdale (opened in 2017). The airline also has a significant presence at Baltimore/Washington International Airport, where it is the sole occupant of Terminal A.

Southwest Airlines has experienced various operational incidents, including near misses, crash landings, and accidents. Notably, in 2022, Southwest pilots mistakenly attempted to take off from a taxiway at Orlando International Airport, prompting an urgent cancellation of takeoff clearance by air traffic control. In another incident, a Southwest flight landing at Chicago Midway Airport's runway had a close encounter with a private Bombardier Challenger 350 that crossed the runway.

Southwest's history of airports

Southwest Airlines was founded in 1966 by Herbert Kelleher and Rollin King, with the plan to operate as an intrastate airline, flying a Texas Triangle network between Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. By flying only within Texas, Southwest avoided regulation by the federal Civil Aeronautics Board, allowing it to undercut competitor prices.

In the beginning, three other airlines sued to prevent Southwest from starting up. These lawsuits were resolved in 1970, and in 1971, the airline changed its name to Southwest Airlines. In 1975, Southwest expanded to other cities in Texas, and in 1979, after the Airline Deregulation Act, it began flying to adjacent states.

In the 1990s, Southwest expanded to the East and Southeast, and in 2006, it began flying to Denver, which is now its most popular destination. Notably, Southwest does not use the "hub and spoke" system like other major airlines; instead, it utilizes a ""point-to-point" system with focus cities. This means that, on average, 80% of Southwest passengers are local, with only 20% being connecting passengers. This is a significantly higher proportion of local passengers compared to other major airlines.

As of March 2025, Southwest Airlines operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet, making it the fourth-largest commercial airline fleet globally and the largest 737 operator. The airline has nearly 500 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on order. Southwest has a strong presence in certain airports, with over 80 daily departures at 20 airports as of January 2024.

In terms of destinations, Southwest serves over 100 domestic destinations and 14 international destinations in 12 countries as of March 2025. These include flights to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and Puerto Rico. Notable international destinations include Oranjestad in Aruba, George Town in the Grand Cayman, Havana in Cuba, Montego Bay in Jamaica, and Nassau in the Bahamas.

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