Southwest Airlines Adds 14 New Routes and One Destination for 2026

DALLAS- Southwest Airlines (WN) is set to expand its network with 14 new routes and a new destination, McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) near Knoxville, Tennessee. This marks the airline’s second new city announcement in consecutive months.

Beginning March 5, 2026, the Dallas-based carrier will launch service to TYS alongside additional routes from key hubs including Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), Nashville International Airport (BNA), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), and San Diego International Airport (SAN).

Photo: Clément Alloing

Southwest Adds 14 New Routes

Southwest (WN) will enter the Knoxville market with 5 daily flights connecting TYS to major destinations: Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), twice daily service to Nashville (BNA), Dallas Love Field (DAL), and Orlando International Airport (MCO).

Knoxville becomes the carrier’s third airport in Tennessee, joining Nashville and Memphis International Airport (MEM).

Knoxville’s location in the Appalachian region makes it a gateway to popular attractions such as the University of Tennessee, Dollywood, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

While this marks a fresh launch for Southwest, it is also a partial return; its former subsidiary, AirTran Airways, operated at TYS until 2012 before being integrated in 2014.

Photo: Cado Photo

Response to Competition

Seven new daily nonstop routes will launch from San Diego International Airport (SAN) in March 2026, including Seattle (SEA), Eugene Airport (EUG), Portland Airport (PDX), Kahului Airport (OGG), and Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR).

Two Saturday-only seasonal routes will serve Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) and Spokane International Airport (GEG).

Reported by The Points Guy, these additions appear to counter Alaska Airlines’ recent capacity growth in San Diego, where Alaska seats rose 9% year over year compared to Southwest’s 2%. The carrier will also relocate to SAN’s new Terminal 1 upon its September 23 opening.

Photo: Aero Icarus | Flickr

Hub Connector Expansion

Southwest will add new connector flights between its high-volume bases to improve network flexibility.

These include BNA to Clinton National Airport (LIT) in Little Rock, MDW to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE), and PHX to Tucson International Airport (TUS).

Though current demand on these routes is low, they will increase connectivity and onward travel options within Southwest’s network.

Photo: Southwest Airlines

Future Outlook

This expansion follows Southwest’s recent announcement of service to St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, the first new city since 2021, and signals further growth ahead, with at least one more new city expected in the near future.

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