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The following blog was written by Penelope Shirey with contributions from Kyle Binder from Network Planning.   With July on the horizon, summer is in full swing, and Southwest Airlines’ Hawaii service just keeps getting better and better. After we successfully kicked off the first wave of our significant Hawaii expansion, it is now time to ramp up our Hawaii service once again with new routes and additional flights.   Don’t miss out on the waves of our Hawaii expansion (Stephen M. Keller, Southwest Airlines, Co.)Don’t miss out on the waves of our Hawaii expansion (Stephen M. Keller, Southwest Airlines, Co.)   Wave 1 To quickly recap, two of our new gateways—Las Vegas and Los Angeles (LAX)—launched Hawaii service on June 6. Initial service from Las Vegas and Los Angeles included two daily flights to Honolulu (Oahu), while the new Los Angeles service also included three daily flights to Kahului (Maui). Additionally, we added flights from our existing Hawaii gateway Stations: Oakland and San Diego each now have one more flight to Honolulu (Oahu) daily, and San Jose, Calif. bumped up to two flights to Kahului (Maui) each day.   Wave 2 and 3 June 27 marks the launch of the second wave of our summer 2021 Hawaii expansion. Southwest will now offer daily flights from Las Vegas to Kahului (Maui), Los Angeles to Kona (Island of Hawaii), and Los Angeles to Lihue (Kauai). While Los Angeles to Honolulu (Oahu) and San Diego to Kahului (Maui) kicked off service earlier this month, one additional daily flight will now operate on each route starting today. On top of that, San Diego to Kona (Island of Hawaii) and Sand Diego to Lihue (Kauai) begins today with less-than-daily service (bumping up to daily service starting in September).   It doesn’t stop there though! With those triple-digit summer temperatures in full swing, Southwest is here to help offer some relief for those in the Grand Canyon State. For the first time, Southwest will now offer nonstop service from Phoenix to Hawaii with daily departures to Honolulu (Oahu) and Kahului (Maui). These additions bring Southwest to eight Hawaii gateways and further expand our commitment to the Valley of the Sun. In addition to Honolulu (Oahu) and Kahului (Maui) nonstops launching June 27, less-than-daily service to Lihue (Kauai) and Kona (Island of Hawaii) will begin this September. No matter which island you choose to escape that “dry heat,” Southwest has you covered.   While Arizona One isn’t ETOPS certified, we look forward to welcoming Customers onboard our ETOPS aircraft for flights from Phoenix to Hawaii starting June 27 (Penelope Shirey, Southwest Airlines, Co.)While Arizona One isn’t ETOPS certified, we look forward to welcoming Customers onboard our ETOPS aircraft for flights from Phoenix to Hawaii starting June 27 (Penelope Shirey, Southwest Airlines, Co.)   Adding the new Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Phoenix gateways helps our Customers in the central U.S. connect to the Hawaiian Islands. As an example, Customers in Chicago (Midway), Dallas (Love Field), Kansas City, and as far east as Baltimore/Washington (BWI) can now travel to Hawaii with same-day, round trip itineraries.   Wave 4 Even with all these summer plans, more excitement is just around the corner. In December, we’ll have more ETOPS flights each day--that’s more than ever before! With additions to our current Honolulu (Oahu) and Kahului (Maui) service and new service from Sacramento to Kona (Island of Hawaii), Southwest continues to provide more opportunities for Customers to experience the magic of Hawaii.   Spread the word to anyone looking to getaway! Book now on Southwest.com. ... View more

Southwest Airlines extends its schedule through Jan. 5, 2022, while adding more domestic destinations than ever before, and offering new nonstop service to international destinations from the Midwest.  The following blog was written by Penelope Shirey, Jordan Judy, and Nate Mulder from Southwest's Network Planning Team.    Flight schedule open for sale through Jan. 5, 2022 June may have just begun, but 2021 is flying by, and our flight schedule is now open through Jan. 5, 2022! We are excited to announce that more than 70 markets are receiving new or returning service in the schedule publishing today. These markets join the schedule while we grow our network.   Launching service to Bellingham, Wash. and Syracuse, New York On March 8, 2021, Southwest announced our intent to serve Bellingham, Wash. (BLI). Now, we are excited to announce today that Southwest will begin service to BLI beginning Nov. 7, 2021, with twice-daily service to Oakland (OAK) and once-daily service to Las Vegas (LAS)! Bellingham offers Southwest a unique opportunity to not only serve the beautiful northern Washington area.   But we’re not stopping there.   Our Heart is growing even more as Southwest will begin service to Syracuse, New York (SYR) on Nov. 14, 2021! Three daily Baltimore/Washington (BWI) flights will connect Syracuse, New York to the network, with additional peak-Saturday Orlando (MCO) service. Syracuse, New York is the 18th airport Southwest has announced since the beginning of 2020 and the sixth Station in the Empire State with Southwest service. Nestled between Albany (ALB) and Rochester (ROC), Syracuse, New York hosts a vibrant arts and entertainment scene, immersive museums, and is the home of Syracuse University. For outdoor enthusiasts, Syracuse, New York is located along the eastern edge of the Finger Lakes region, popular for summertime hiking and fishing. For snow lovers, there is plenty of winter terrain to perfect those skiing or snowboarding skills, with several resorts located an hour or less from Syracuse, New York. Additionally, with our new service beginning just in time for winter, Southwest will provide local residents easy connections to warm-weather destinations for those in need of a beach retreat!   We've got no qualms about these palms (Stephen M Keller, Southwest Airlines)   International service update: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Nassau, Bahamas; Providenciales, Turks and Caicos; and Belize City, Belize restoration It’s also time to grab those passports, pack your favorite swimsuit, and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime because international is BACK! Today marks a major milestone as we announce our intent to welcome back service to Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (GCM); Nassau, Bahamas (NAS); and Providenciales, Turks and Caicos (PLS) (effective Oct. 7, 2021) and Belize City, Belize (BZE) (effective Nov. 7, 2021) – completing the restoration of all our international destinations to the network.   Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (GCM) Beginning Oct. 7, 2021, Southwest returns daily service to Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands from Ft. Lauderdale (FLL) and Saturday-only seasonal service from Baltimore/Washington (BWI) for the holidays in November and December. Nestled in the Caribbean Sea, Grand Cayman offers a wealth of activities from picturesque beaches like the award-wining Seven Mile Beach (named one of the top beaches in the world), to hiking adventures through the subtropical forest, to one-of-a-kind shopping experiences at the Cayman Craft Market. Whatever your pace, you’ll find plenty to do on this sun-kissed Caribbean island. Service is subject to border reopening and favorable entry requirements. *Service to Grand Cayman resumes Oct. 7, 2021, subject to border reopening.   Nassau, Bahamas (NAS) Beginning Oct. 7, 2021, Customers will once again enjoy daily service to Nassau, Bahamas (NAS) from Ft. Lauderdale and weekend-only service from Baltimore/Washington (BWI) (and later expanding to less-then-daily service in November). Whether you’re looking to take the plunge on a waterslide through shark-infested waters at one of several massive resort waterparks or immerse yourself in the stories of rum-runners and pirates of long ago, Nassau Paradise Island has just about everything you may be looking for in a tropical getaway. From Nassau, there are numerous day trips to neighboring islands within The Bahamas offering even more to discover – like did you know you could swim with pigs in Exuma?   Providenciales, Turks and Caicos (PLS) Beginning Oct.  7, 2021, Southwest will also return daily service from Ft. Lauderdale to the turquoise waters and white sand beaches of Providenciales, Turks and Caicos (PLS). Prepare to relax and enjoy as you rediscover everything this tropical island paradise has to offer. You might consider taking in a round of golf, attending Thursday’s Island Fish Fry, or snorkeling at Smith’s Reef. With so many options, the hardest part will be to choose what to do first, but you can always hang out on one of the many beautiful beaches until you decide.   Belize City, Belize (BZE) Beginning Nov. 7, 2021, get ready to once again step back in time while exploring ancient Mayan temples, take in the underworld while hiking through one of thousands of caves, or finding out what awaits as you dive deep into the Blue Hole Natural Monument (known as one of the best dive sites in the world). Daily service to Belize City, Belize (BZE) relaunches from Houston (Hobby) (HOU) and Saturday-only seasonal service from Denver (DEN) right in time for peak holiday travel.   And the good news just keeps coming! Not only does this schedule extension restore service to the remainder of our international franchise, but it’s also jam-packed with a few more new surprises! Southwest will continue to grow Cancun, Mexico (CUN) with new daily service from Chicago (O’Hare) (ORD), returning daily Ft. Lauderdale service, and new Saturday-only seasonal service from Kansa City (MCI). Customers looking to escape to the Yucatán Peninsula during holidays can take advantage of Saturday-only seasonal nonstop service to Cancun from Columbus (CMH), Indianapolis (IND), Milwaukee (MKE), New Orleans (MSY), Pittsburgh (PIT), and San Antonio (SAT). This brings Southwest to a total of 17 gateways to Cancun, five more than the same timeframe in 2019. On top of that, Denver Customers will be able to enjoy nonstop access to stunning Costa Rica with new Saturday-only seasonal service to Liberia (LIR). Southwest will also increase our service to Jamaica with restored daily service from Ft. Lauderdale to Montego Bay (MBJ).   In addition to Southwest’s international expansion, Customers will soon have even more ways to experience the beauty of the tropics without the need for a passport. New Saturday-only seasonal service from Buffalo/Niagara and St. Louis (STL) to San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) begins Nov.  13, 2021. Our new Buffalo/Niagara gateway will also provide our Canadian Customers in southern Ontario with a convenient way to escape the winter weather for the pristine beaches and rich history and culture of Puerto Rico.   With so many exciting destinations, it’s time to get going! Schedules and fares are available to book now on Southwest.com! ... View more

As summer quickly approaches and vaccination rates continue to climb, many Americans are turning to the National Parks to explore domestically. Reaching the natural wonders of the Golden State just became even easier because today, Southwest launched service to Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT).   We now serve 13 airports in California, and you know that Southwest loves to give back to the communities it serves! To commemorate this launch and join the Earth Day celebrations happening nationwide, our Employees teamed up with Tree Fresno and Beautify Fresno to plant 200 trees on Saturday, April 24.   If you take a quick trip 80 miles east of Fresno, you’ll find even more trees at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. The Giant Forest, home to the world’s largest tree, stands tall in the heart of Sequoia National Park, and Kings Canyon is home to the largest remaining grove of sequoia trees in the world.   Only 100 miles north of Fresno, Yosemite National Park also offers epic outdoor opportunities. Peak flow for Yosemite’s countless waterfalls is just beginning as snow melts in May and June. However, you should make additional plans to see the incredible wintertime “firefall” at Horsetail Fall, where the glowing reflection of the sunset makes the water look like lava instead.   Whether you plan to take in the verdant Yosemite Valley or take on a challenging hike of Half Dome or El Capitan, be sure to make a National Park reservation after booking your Southwest ticket. This year, day passes are required between May 21 and September 30 at Yosemite National Park to manage the flow of visitors.   If hiking is not your cup of tea, how does a glass of wine sound instead? Nearly one-fifth of the total wine grapes grown in California are grown in Fresno County, making it an ideal destination for any California wine lover. More than a dozen wineries are available along the Fresno County Wine Journey and Madera Wine Trail.   Whatever your reason for visiting Fresno, our daily service to Denver and multiple daily flights to Las Vegas will get you there. For our local Customers, this new service also means connections to more than 50 destinations in our network. Head to Southwest.com now to book your trip! ... View more