dailynewsnblog
When flights are considered, 
Southwest is the fourth-largest airline serving the US. However, its all-Boeing 737 fleet, rather than regional jets as extensively used by the US Big Three carriers, means it ranks third for seats for sale.
According to OAG schedule data, Southwest will have an average of 4,072 daily flights (both ways combined) in Q2 2026 (April-June). Surprisingly or not, the increasingly evolving airline’s offering has only increased marginally year-over-year. Just 19 additional daily services are now available. Southwest’s debut in Knoxville contributed.
Southwest’s Ten Longest Nonstop Flights In Q2
The emphasis on nonstop is entirely deliberate. After all, the carrier still has many multi-stop routes that crisscross the country and which can take many hours. While they’d make a great story another time, they’re entirely excluded here. This approach helps with consistency and greater comparability, and it makes it fairer.
The following list is ordered by the maximum block time, which is measured as chocks-off-to-chocks-on. It includes taxi time at both airports, flight time, and a period for short delays. It is what’s listed in Southwest’s booking engine, in other booking locations, and in schedules.
|
Max. Block Time In Q2* |
Nonstop Route** |
The Airline’s Operations*** |
|---|---|---|
|
6h 55m |
Phoenix to Honolulu |
Daily 737 MAX 8 |
|
6h 40m |
Phoenix to Kahului |
Daily 737 MAX 8 |
|
6h 40m |
Las Vegas to Lihue |
Daily 737 MAX 8 |
|
6h 40m |
Las Vegas to Honolulu |
Three daily 737 MAX 8 |
|
6h 20m |
Las Vegas to Kona |
Daily 737 MAX 8 |
|
6h 20m |
San Diego to Honolulu |
Two daily 737 MAX 8 |
|
6h 20m |
Orlando to Sacramento |
Daily 737-800/737 MAX 8 |
|
6h 20m |
Las Vegas to Kahului |
Daily 737 MAX 8 |
|
6h 15m |
Los Angeles to Lihue |
Just nine departures in this period: April 4, June 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 (i.e., Saturdays/Sundays). Services continue in Q3. All flights on the 737 MAX 8 |
|
6h 10m |
Boston to San Diego |
Begins on June 4. Daily 737 MAX 8. Not previously served by the airline |
|
* Even if once |
** As always, multiple routes were only a few minutes short of inclusion |
*** Known as of March 12, and subject to change |
Orlando To Sacramento Is The Airline’s Longest Service Within The Lower 48
Southwest first served this long route, which covers 2,092 nautical miles (3,874 km) each way, in 2018. Until then, it had not had nonstop flights by any airline. Service existed through early 2020, with the cessation perhaps partly influenced by the pandemic. Nonstop flights returned in late 2024 and have operated ever since.
It is a decent-sized local market. According to the US Department of Transportation, 182,000 round-trip passengers flew between the two cities between November 2024 and October 2025. Thanks to Southwest being the only nonstop operator, it carried 95,500 passengers and thus had over half of the market. Despite this, most of its passengers—over 60,000—didn’t fly nonstop. They connected at other airports en route, including Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Houston Hobby, and Nashville.
The same source shows that Southwest filled 91.1% of seats on this long route. Of those who did fly nonstop, nearly eight in ten passengers only flew between the two cities. They didn’t go elsewhere. Given the size of the market and the locations of the two cities, that’s not surprising. But still, around 19,000 people did transfer to another flight at one or both ends.
Revealed: 7 Of The World’s Most Exciting New Airline Routes Starting This Week
Routes make the world go around. See which notable examples made the list this week…
Hang On: Where’s Anchorage In The List?!
On May 15, Southwest will take off to Anchorage (and Alaska) for the first time in the carrier’s 50-plus-year existence. It plans two daily flights: one from Denver and the other from Las Vegas. Connections across the US will be vital.
Despite the length of the routes, the maximum block time was not quite long enough for them to feature on the table. Funnily enough, the maximum time for both markets in Q2 is 5h 35m. When they launch, they’re bound to be included in my weekly celebratory new routes article (see the most recent edition).
