Southwest Shrinks Turn Times at 19 Airports

The airline has shaved five minutes off each flight’s turnaround at some stations.

A Southwest 737 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

[ Airports ]April 28, 2025 4:20 pm ET

By Ryan Ewing

Southwest said last week it has cut five minutes from turnaround times at 19 airports. The carrier first announced this initiative in September.

In 2025, the airline plans to ramp up capacity by 1% to 2%, all by reducing turnaround times and implementing redeye flights.

“Reducing turn time generates more flying from each aircraft, increasing our capital efficiency, and unlike normal utilization increases, which typically extend the day earlier and later, this does not increase the operating day so it is favorable to RASM and CASM,” Southwest’s chief operating officer, Andrew Watterson, said during the carrier’s first-quarter earnings call.

Shake-Ups at Key Stations

As part of this initiative, Southwest is removing five minutes of turn time from each flight. Of the 19 airports already seeing this change, the airline’s “mega stations” – including Dallas and Nashville, Tennessee – are also included.

In a September Investor Day presentation, the airline shared that its average turnaround time was 49 minutes, the shortest of any major U.S. carrier. It hopes to bring this down to roughly 44 minutes, freeing up the equivalent of approximately 16 aircraft.

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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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