dailynewsnblog
Southwest Airlines, the world’s largest low-cost carrier by fleet size and passengers carried, has added an extra 11 new international routes this year, all to sun-soaked destinations popular with American travelers. While Southwest is technically a budget airline, many now consider it a hybrid carrier catering to all traveler types.
Using data from Cirium, an online aviation analytics company, the carrier adds these 11 routes between November 2026 and June this year.
Four New Routes Taking Off From Nashville
As Southwest continues to invest heavily in its network from the home of country music. Nashville International Airport (BNA) will see four new international routes added in 2027, with the airline confirming its intention to launch a nonstop service from Nashville to Liberia (LIR) in February, followed by Aruba (AUA) in March, and Nassau (NAS) and Providenciales (PLS) in June.
These routes will be served by the airline’s fleet of Boeing 737 family aircraft, of which the Dallas-based airline has more than 800, and is the largest operator of the type in the world.
Southwest’s continued expansion at Nashville comes as the airline looks to tap in deeper to the growing tourist and business traveler demand from the Tennessee city. Full details of the new Nashville international routes below:
From | To | Start Date | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
Nashville (BNA) | Liberia (LIR) | February 13, 2027 | Southwest will be the sole operator on the route |
Nashville (BNA) | Aruba (AUA) | March 13, 2027 | Southwest will be the sole operator on the route |
Nashville (BNA) | Nassau (NAS) | June 5, 2027 | Southwest will be the sole operator on the route |
Nashville (BNA) | Providenciales (PLS) | June 5, 2027 | Southwest will be the sole operator on the route |
Austin Gains Four New International Southwest Routes
Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is set to gain four new international routes as the airline develops its network at this Texas airport. The airline will add four routes to San José (SJO), in Costa Rica, from March, while three new services will begin in June to Liberia, Punta Cana (PUJ) and Nassau.
Southwest already maintains a dominant market share at Austin, as the airport’s largest airline, and operates more than 40% of all flights. The airline launched a new pilot and flight attendant crew base at the airport in March, permanently situating itself at the airport. Full details of the new routes from Austin are detailed below:
From | To | Start Date | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
Austin (AUS) | San Jose (SJO) | March 13, 2027 | Southwest will be the sole operator on the route |
Austin (AUS) | Liberia (LIR) | June 5, 2027 | Southwest will be the sole operator on the route |
Austin (AUS) | Punta Cana (PUJ) | June 5, 2027 | Southwest will be the sole operator on the route |
Austin (AUS) | Nassau (NAS) | June 5, 2027 | Southwest will be the sole operator on the route |
This expansion by Southwest ties in closely to the airport’s broader $4 billion expansion plan taking place. These new routes will add to the existing 53 domestic and international routes at Austin.
International Routes From Las Vegas, Pittsburgh and Columbus
The final three new international routes being added to the Southwest network will begin as early as November. Southwest will add a nonstop service from Las Vegas 
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) from November 1 to Puerto Vallarta (PVR), before new flights are added from both Columbus (CMH) and Pittsburgh (PIT) destined for Punta Cana. Details below:
From | To | Start Date | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
Las Vegas (LAS) | Puerto Vallarta (PVR) | November 1, 2026 | Southwest will be the sole operator on the route |
Columbus (CMH) | Punta Cana (PUJ) | March 13, 2027 | Breeze Airways (beginning January 8) |
Pittsburgh (PIT) | Punta Cana (PUJ) | June 5, 2027 | Breeze Airways (beginning January 7) |
On two of these routes, they will go head to head with Breeze Airways, as the Utah-based low-cost carrier continues to tap into underserved markets. For Vegas, Southwest’s latest addition to Puerto Vallarta adds to the airline’s growing network from Las Vegas, where the airline demands more than 41.5% of all flight operations at the city’s airport.
