Southwest Airlines has been adding several new routes. The airline added new routes to multiple international destinations this year, including but not limited to Punta Cana and Puerto Vallarta. In June, Southwest faced the most flight delays among U.S. carriers for three consecutive days.
The airline, however, has been taking steps in the interest of passengers.
The Dallas-based carrier launched nonstop service to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which travelers have been begging for. Earlier this month, Southwest Airlines announced that it will add several new routes to its Spring 2027 lineup. Though not all of those flights are sure to please travelers. One of them has been dubbed America’s worst-ever flight route.
Southwest Airlines Set To Add America’s Worst-Ever Flight Route In 2027
Southwest Airlines announced on July 16 that it’s adding a flight from Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), which would depart at 2:45 a.m. and arrive in Honolulu at 6:10 a.m. local time. The carrier has described the over six-hour flight as a “reverse redeye.”
Meanwhile, Simple Flying described the flight among Southwest’s worst offerings. The outlet also listed four other of the carrier’s red-eye flights as ones to avoid:
|
Route |
Departure Time |
|
Las Vegas (LAS) to Honolulu (HNL) |
2:45 AM |
|
Phoenix (PHX) to Chicago Midway (MDW) |
1:45 a.m. |
|
Las Vegas (LAS) to Dallas Love Field (DAL) |
1:25 a.m. |
|
Las Vegas (LAS) to Houston Hobby (HOU) |
1:15 a.m. |
|
Phoenix (PHX) to Nashville (BNA) |
1:10 a.m. |
The carrier only started offering red-eye flights in February 2025. Data from aviation analytics company Cirium shows Southwest now operates over a dozen flights that depart after midnight — its latest departure times are concentrated out of Harry Reid International Airport and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).
In addition, Southwest said it is increasing service frequency between the Hawaiian capital and two California cities, as well as between San Diego and two other destinations in the island state.
“For its Hawaii-mainland service, Southwest is increasing its service between Honolulu and Burbank and Ontario, California to five times per week (every day but Tuesday and Wednesday), as well as adding weekend-only trips between San Diego and Kona and Lihue,” the airline states.
The airline added that its flight schedule is available to book through early April 2027.
More Flights That Southwest Is Adding To Its Spring 2027 Lineup
Southwest will also increase the number of flights between Austin and several destinations.
|
Route |
New Service |
Increased Service |
|
Austin-Detroit |
Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays |
– |
|
Austin-San Jose, Costa Rica |
Saturdays |
– |
|
Austin-Steamboat Springs (Hayden), Colorado |
– |
Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays |
|
Austin-Montrose (Telluride/Crested Butte), Colorado |
– |
Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays |
Southwest also plans to expand service between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA), bringing the total daily offering to three flights. It will also add a route between the “Theme Park Capital of the World” and Pensacola International Airport (PNS).
The carrier will also add more first-ever nonstop flights to destinations it described as “key Southwest cities.”
|
Route |
Frequency |
|
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) |
Twice daily |
|
Dallas Love Field (DAL) and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) |
Operating once each day but Saturday |
|
Nashville International Airport (BNA) and Des Moines International Airport (DSM) |
Once daily |
|
Nashville International Airport (BNA) and Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) |
Once daily |
|
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) |
Varying frequencies and days of week |
|
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and Miami International Airport (MIA) |
Varying frequencies and days of week |
|
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) |
Varying frequencies and days of week |
|
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) |
Varying frequencies and days of week |
Southwest also plans to “launch Saturday-only service in March between Nashville and Aruba; Liberia, Costa Rica; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Columbus, Ohio and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.”
However, Southwest isn’t just adding flights; it’s also removing some routes. Several routes previously offered will not be operated later this year.
Southwest Airlines Slashes Several Routes For Part Of 2026
Several Southwest flights available during Q3 2025 will no longer be available at the same time in 2026.
Q3 covers July through September.
Here are the routes, with a couple that will resume services later this year:
- Chicago O’Hare to Cancun
- Colorado Springs to Cancun
- Fort Lauderdale to Montego Bay
- Kansas City to Los Cabos (set to resume in October 2026)
- Oakland to Los Cabos (set to resume in November 2026)
Many U.S. carriers have been slashing routes, including American Airlines, which just cut 15 transatlantic destinations—14 in Europe and 1 in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Southwest appears to be mostly taking the opposite approach by adding several new routes, coming at a time when the price of jet fuel has driven up the cost of flying.
While this is sure to please many travelers, the carrier has still faced issues. In early 2026, it changed its “customer of size” rule, which required plus-sized passengers to purchase an additional seat, which can be refunded if certain conditions are met. But the policy has resulted in disapproval from several travelers. One Southwest passenger said the rule made them feel “dehumanized,” and several other travelers sided with them.
Only time will tell if Southwest’s push to add more flights will put the airline in the good graces of its loyal passengers.



