Is Southwest Airlines preparing for international expansion? What we know so far 

Southwest Airlines could be preparing for a significant expansion of its international operations. 

The low-cost carrier has filed a request with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to get permission to fly to all countries with which the US has an Open Skies treaty. 

While the bulk of Southwest Airlines’ routes are within the US, the airline already flies to a limited number of destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean. The filing, however, may be signaling a willingness on the part of Southwest Airlines to open new markets further afield.  

As of May 2025, the US has Open Skies agreements with the European Union, the United Kingdom, and a number of other countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa which are within range of Southwest Airlines’ US-based Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.  

However, the airline reportedly declined to confirm whether it was considering the launch of any specific new international services in the near future. 

Southwest Airlines is currently undergoing a process of change which has included cost-cutting measures, the introduction of new ancillary services and a streamlining of operational and commercial processes.  

The changes took place after the airline’s performance was criticized by one of its main shareholders, Elliott Investment Management. The activist investment fund also forced a reshuffling of the airline’s management team in 2024. The post Is Southwest Airlines preparing for international expansion? What we know so far  appeared first on AeroTime.

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