Key points:

• Southwest Airlines announces new international routes for the summer of 2027
• The airline is reportedly considering introducing the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to launch long-haul international flights.
• Southwest Airlines is also expanding its cooperation with Icelandic Airlines to provide passengers with more connecting flight options to European destinations.

Southwest Airlines recently announced 11 new routes for the summer of 2027, covering 15 cities, including flights to the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The company is also considering adding Boeing 787 Dreamliners to its fleet, which could open the door to longer international routes.

Southwest Airlines adds new international routes

Southwest Airlines announced on October 2nd that it will launch three new international routes from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, connecting the capital of Texas with Nassau in the Bahamas, Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, and Liberia in Costa Rica.

These new routes are scheduled to begin operations in June 2027, with two flights per Saturday and Sunday until the beginning of August. The airline also plans to launch seasonal flights from Austin to San Jose, Costa Rica, starting from March 13, 2027, and will resume services to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, at the same time.

Nashville is also one of the main cities that will benefit from this expansion, with new direct flights to Nassau in the Bahamas and Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands set to be added.

These new routes are part of Southwest Airlines' ambitious summer flight schedule for 2027, which also includes the addition of multiple new routes within the United States.

Southwest Airlines considers using Boeing 787s for long-haul flights

In addition to the newly announced routes, Southwest Airlines is also said to be considering major adjustments to its international operations. According to a report by Reuters on October 8th, the airline is evaluating the use of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner as its first wide-body aircraft model. This could enable the company to launch international flights over longer distances.

Southwest Airlines has always operated a fleet consisting entirely of Boeing 737 aircraft in its history, so the introduction of the Dreamliner will represent a significant shift from its traditional business model.

The company is also considering Airbus models, but it is said that the Boeing 787 is the more favored choice.

Southwest Airlines expands its European connections through Icelandair

Southwest Airlines is also strengthening its international coverage through cooperation with Icelandair. On October 15th, Icelandair announced an expansion of its loyalty program benefits and confirmed that St. Louis would become the seventh connecting hub under this partnership in May 2027.

This will enable Southwest Airlines passengers to connect flights to Iceland and multiple destinations in Europe operated by Icelandic Airlines. Although Southwest Airlines will not operate transatlantic flights on its own, this partnership will provide its customers with more international travel options.

Overall, the new routes, airline partnerships, and potential investments in wide-body aircraft indicate that Southwest Airlines is moving from being a carrier primarily focused on domestic services to becoming a more competitive international airline.