Southwest Airlines has experienced major changes in 2025. The low-cost carrier ended some of its well-known policies this year, including open seating and free checked bags. Now, the airline is preparing for another big step: increasing its international flights.
On May 13, Southwest submitted a request to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The airline wants permission to fly to new international destinations. Their application asks for approval to operate scheduled flights carrying passengers, cargo, and mail between the U.S. and all countries with which the U.S. has Open-Skies agreements.
Open-Skies agreements allow airlines to operate international routes between the signing countries. The U.S. has such agreements with over 130 countries, including many in Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, parts of Asia and Africa, and the South Pacific.
If approved, Southwest could fly to any of these countries worldwide. Currently, the airline serves short international routes near North America, mostly to Latin America and the Caribbean. Its longest flights so far are domestic, from California to Hawaii, which started in 2019.
Southwest’s fleet is made up entirely of Boeing 737 planes. The newest model, the 737 Max, can fly about 3,850 nautical miles on a full tank. This range covers some transatlantic routes and far parts of South America, making these destinations possible for the airline’s current fleet.
In 2025, Southwest expects to receive more than 35 new 737 Max 8 jets. Earlier this year, CEO Bob Jordan mentioned that the airline might consider flying to places requiring different planes in the future. However, he said they are “not anywhere close to ready to talk about that” yet.
Southwest noted that their application “is not necessarily indicative of anything forthcoming,” Reuters reported. Still, the filing comes as U.S. budget airlines face challenges turning a profit. Larger airlines say that long-haul international flights have been an important source of income.
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