Southwest Airlines extended its schedule this week through June 4th, 2025 and there are some brutal cuts hidden within the extension. The Dallas bases carrier is cutting multiple routes from its Atlanta focus city as part of the latest schedule update.
Southwest Slashes Atlanta
From Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL), the airline is eliminating flights to fifteen destinations:
- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
- Eppley Airfield (OMA)
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
- Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP)
- Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
- Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF)
- Memphis International Airport (MEM)
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
- Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- Richmond International Airport (RIC)
- Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)
- Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
- Will Rogers World Airport (OKC)
These cuts represent roughly 40% of the carrier’s routes from the airport. The reduction comes amid turbulent times for Southwest as the carrier is under fire from an activist investor looking to push some long overdue changes including to the airline’s Board of Directors.
Southwest is also looking to transform itself into a more premium airline, abandoning its longtime open seating practice and even considering adding extra-legroom seating. One has to believe that this change in market position is the reason for the route shakup.
Delta operates an absolutely massive hub in Atlanta, making it the busiest airport in the world. With Southwest looking to move upmarket, competing with Delta in Atlanta sounds like a money loser as Delta has long had a reputation as a premium airline and will take the lion’s share of that traffic.
The airline is also reportedly reducing the number of gates it holds at the airport and cutting the size of the crew base there. Affected crewmembers are being given the option to transfer to other Southwest bases.
Nashville Gets New Routes
After running from a flight with Delta in Atlanta, Southwest is adding new routes in friendlier pastures just up the road. The airline will launch six new routes from Nashville International Airport (BNA) beginning April 8th, 2025 to the following destinations:
- Albany International Airport (ALB)
- Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)
- Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)
- Memphis International Airport (MEM)
- Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD)
- Tulsa International Airport (TUL)
Southwest is the largest carrier by far in Nashville and these flights only solidify that position. While it doesn’t replace all of the capacity lost from its Atlanta reductions, it does show a continued focus on the Southeast even as the airline changes its business model. Which is good, considering Southwest is now the official airline of the Southeastern Conference.
The new routes are currently on sale at Southwest.com and via Google Flights.
Summary
Southwest has taken the axe to its route map in Atlanta. The cuts come as the carrier is attempting to rebrand itself as a more premium option with assigned seating and extra legroom seating options. While the Atlanta cuts were deep, Southwest did add six new routes from Nashville which helps offset the losses in Atlanta.
All these routes have direct competition from at least Delta, which offers assigned seats and extra legroom.
The Southwest model is more likely to be tolerated when they have a monopoly on the market.
The good news is that model is changing soon. Assigned seats and even some extra legroom seats are coming.