Southwest plans to open a new pilot and flight attendant crew base in Austin, Texas, the carrier announced Friday.
The base is scheduled to begin operations in March 2026 and will initially include approximately 335 pilots and 650 flight attendants, according to the airline. Total staffing associated with the base is expected to grow to roughly 2,000 employees by mid-2027, including flight crews, base leadership, and support staff.
In its home state of Texas, the airline already has bases in Dallas and Houston. Earlier this year, Southwest closed its satellite flight attendant base in the Texas capital.
Flight Attendant Training
As part of the project, Southwest will also establish a recurring flight attendant training operation in Austin.
Southwest is currently the largest airline in Austin, operating more than 130 peak-day departures and serving 53 nonstop destinations. The airline said the new crew base will support continued growth in Central Texas and improve operational flexibility at the airport.
Alongside the base opening, Southwest outlined several additions to its Austin route network. The airline plans to add new nonstop service from the city to Fort Myers, Florida; Palm Springs, California; and Steamboat Springs (Hayden), Colorado. Daily nonstop service between Austin and Cincinnati is also scheduled to begin in June 2026, along with expanded seasonal service to Pensacola, Florida.
“This investment demonstrates our commitment to Austin and to our Customers,” said the carrier’s CEO, Bob Jordan, in a news release. “As the largest carrier at Austin Bergstrom International Airport, we appreciate the vision of Governor Abbott and Mayor Watson in clearing the way for Austin to become an even bigger part of our future.”
The move to open the new domicile follows a $5.5 million incentive agreement between the airline and the City of Austin.
