en.Wedoany.com Reported - Southwest Airlines has added eight new routes to its international network in the second half of 2026, with these destinations having been launched since July. From July to the end of the year, the airline operates an average of 42 international flights per day, with international operations accounting for only 1% of its total capacity. Comparing Southwest's route plans for 2026 and the same period in 2025, the airline operates a total of 71 international routes by December, representing a 5% year-over-year increase in international operations, twice the growth rate of its domestic market.

A comparison of Southwest Airlines' international route network from July to December 2025 and July to December 2026 shows that eight airport pairs have been launched or are about to be launched. During the same period, seven international routes were canceled, including flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Cancún International Airport (CUN) and from Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS) to CUN. Southwest has completely exited ORD, while CUN was COS's first and only international market, resulting in a net increase of one route in Southwest's international network over the year.

Southwest Airlines is operating international routes from Las Vegas Airport (LAS) for the first time. LAS is the airline's second busiest airport in both domestic and international networks, trailing only Denver International Airport (DEN). These four international leisure markets currently have no nonstop service, and booking data for the 12 months ending April 2026 shows round-trip passenger traffic ranging from 33,000 (San José) to 120,000 (CUN) in these markets. Southwest's entry will increase these numbers and help stimulate demand.

The new route from LAS to San José, Costa Rica, covers 2,297 nautical miles (4,254 kilometers) one-way, making it the longest international route in Southwest's history, with a maximum block time of 6 hours and 10 minutes. Flight WN102 departs from Nevada at 11:35 p.m. and arrives in Central America at 7:00 a.m. local time; the return flight WN104 departs at 1:20 p.m. and returns to LAS at 5:25 p.m. local time. With a maximum layover of 3 hours at LAS in both directions and flight distances not exceeding 130% of the nonstop route, passengers can connect to 11 U.S. airports, all located on or near the West Coast, with passenger volumes exceeding 280,000. In addition to LAS, Southwest also flies to San José from Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI), DEN, William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), and Orlando International Airport (MCO).