Southwest Airlines is undergoing the most dramatic route expansion since its decision to launch Hawaii flights. While the frequencies are minimal, the destination itself is far from the carrier’s bread and butter routes.
Southwest Will Launch Flights to Alaska in 2026
Beginning May 15, 2026, Southwest Airlines will launch service to Ted Stephens International Airport (ANC)in Anchorage, Alaska from both Denver and Las Vegas. Both flights will operate daily using Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft. Southwest’s 737-8s are currently outfitted with 175 seats in an all Economy configuration, though the airline is in the process of adding extra legroom seating.
Anchorage marks the fifth new destination Southwest has announced so far in 2025 and the Dallas based carrier will expand its network to 122 airports when service launches next year. Alaska will become the 43rd state in the Southwest network.
Andrew Watterson, Chief Operating Officer at Southwest Airlines, said this about the launch of Anchorage service:
“We’re adding destinations that once seemed inconceivable for Southwest in order to build a route network that creates new experiences and more possibilities than ever before. We look forward to connecting our Customers to the rich history and culture of Anchorage and connecting the 49th state to our vast domestic network.”
Suzanne LaFrance, Mayor of Anchorage, added:
“This will be a big economic boost for Anchorage and all of southcentral Alaska. We are excited to share our rich cultural heritage, magnificent landscapes, and diverse community with a larger group of travelers.”
Flights on the two new routes are currently on sale. While there is no official announcement, Southwest’s schedule is only bookable through August 3, 2026, I would assume that these flights will be summer seasonal only. Flights will operate on the following schedules:
| Flight | Departs | Arrives |
|---|---|---|
| WN4446 (DEN-ANC) | 6:50p | 10:20p |
| WN173 (ANC-DEN) | 11:20p | 6:30a (+1) |
| WN1575 (LAS-ANC) | 7:30p | 11:55p |
| WN4112 (ANC-LAS) | 12:55a | 7:05a |
Flights to and from Anchorage are currently on sale at Southwest.com.
My Thoughts
The launch of Alaska flights is an interesting, but not outlandish, development. Southwest has been pushing into new markets this year and Alaska during the summertime is a popular tourist destination.
However, all four of these flights clock in at over five hours long which is already pushing it for a narrowbody jet without seatback IFE. This is way more time than I would want to spend onboard a plane in an Economy seat without something to help pass the time.
Thankfully, unlike other aircraft in the fleet, Southwest has in seat power on its MAX 8 fleet so passengers will be able to stream entertainment to their devices without worrying about battery life.
Ultimately, this will be an interesting experiment for Southwest. Unlike its expansion to Hawaii, the airline is taking a more conservative approach with only two daily flights into the market. It will be competing against full service carriers like Alaska Airlines and United Airlines on the route, so it will be interesting to see how much market share it can carve out.
Summary
Southwest Airlines is launching service to Alaska for Summer 2026 with 2x daily service to Anchorage. The Dallas based carrier will operate one daily flight from both Denver and Anchorage beginning May 15 and running through at least August 3, 2026.
