Southwest Adds New Routes in 2024, Trims Fort Lauderdale Schedule

The addition of nearly two dozen new routes did not come without some cuts for the airline.

A Southwest Boeing 737 MAX 8 on approach to Paine Field. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Bailey)

[ Routes ]October 26, 2023 12:08 pm ET

By Ryan Ewing

With its schedule extension through early August 2024, Southwest is adding over 20 new routes across its network. The Dallas-based carrier’s expansion doesn’t come without some cuts, though. The airline confirmed that it would also be trimming its international operation from Fort Lauderdale.

New Service from Orlando

Southwest is bolstering its Orlando operation with a handful of new international routes. Starting on June 4, 2024, the airline will add daily service to Cancun (CUN), Grand Cayman (GCM), Nassau (NAS), Providenciales (PLS), Punta Cana (PUJ), and San Jose, CR (SJO).

Southwest currently serves several domestic destinations from Orlando along with Aruba (AUA) and Montego Bay (MBJ). According to Department of Transportation (DOT) data, Southwest maintains the most market share at Orlando International Airport.

The new routes don’t come without cuts. As first pointed out by Enilria, Southwest will remove most of its Caribbean routes from Fort Lauderdale. These include Cancun (CUN), Grand Cayman (GCM), Havana (HAV), Nassau (NAS). Punta Cana (PUJ), and Turks/Caicos (PLS). Most of these flights were daily.

San Juan (SJU) and Montego Bay (MBJ) flights will stay in Fort Lauderdale, although MBJ drops to a once-weekly frequency. A Southwest spokesperson confirmed these cuts in Fort Lauderdale, adding that they will take effect on June 4 as some of the routes move to Orlando.

These cuts will increase both JetBlue and Spirit’s market dominance in Fort Lauderdale. The carriers – who are planning to merge – have 30% and 18% market share in Fort Lauderdale, per DOT data.

Boosting Burbank Service

On the West Coast, Southwest is doubling down on service to Burbank. Also starting on June 4, the carrier will launch service to Boise, Kansas City, New Orleans, San Antonio, and St. Louis with daily flights.

Despite ultra-low-cost startup Avelo’s recent growth in the Burbank market, Southwest still maintains a majority of the market share.

Seasonal Adds from Dallas and Nashville

Southwest is also adding a handful of seasonal, Saturday-only flights from both Dallas and Nashville. From Dallas, the airline will serve Buffalo/Niagara, Fresno, Providence, and Spokane.

The airline will also add flights from Nashville to Bozeman and Grand Rapids.

Other New Routes

In addition to batches of new routes from its focus cities, Southwest is adding a few one-off new routes. In June, the airline will begin daily nonstop service from Baltimore to Colorado Springs.

On Twitter, Ishrion Aviation pointed out a few additional flights that were new as part of the carrier’s schedule extension. These include Columbus to Kansas City, Columbus to San Diego, Pittsburgh to San Diego, Denver to Greenville, El Paso to Chicago Midway, and Eugene to Sacramento.

The new routes come on the heels of record third-quarter operating revenues for the airline. Southwest is expecting to slow its Available Seat Miles (ASM) growth in 2024, the company’s CEO Bob Jordan said in a press release.

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Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

Follow Ryan

Author

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

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