Southwest Airlines Suspending 30 Flight Routes, 11 Permanent Closure

DALLAS— Southwest Airlines (WN) will cut 30 routes from its schedule in March 2026, a move tied to the carrier’s ongoing transformation to improve profitability.

The largest impacts will be felt at Denver International Airport (DEN) and St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), each losing seven nonstop routes, according to data from Cirium and as reported by TPG.

Photo: Jeffrey S.S | Pexels

Southwest Cuts 30 Routes from March 2026

Southwest Airlines, long known for its point-to-point model, is reshaping its network by incorporating more connecting flights.

The March 2026 schedule update includes route cuts, seasonal adjustments, and new additions designed to support a more hub-and-spoke system — a structure traditionally used by legacy carriers.

Andrew Watterson, Chief Operating Officer, emphasized that Southwest will continue to operate the industry’s largest point-to-point network while adding connection opportunities. These will vary based on time of day, season, and demand, with the goal of improving network efficiency and customer options.

This adjustment follows broader changes at the airline. Earlier this year, Southwest introduced bag fees and will begin seat assignments and extra-legroom seating in 2026. These shifts, alongside the route realignment, represent one of the most significant business model pivots in the company’s history.

Photo: Tim | Flickr

Where the Cuts Are Happening

The upcoming cuts will remove nonstop services at several major airports:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) loses flights to New York LaGuardia (LGA) and Raleigh-Durham (RDU). Both markets are key business routes and face heavy competition from Delta Air Lines (DL).
• Denver International Airport (DEN) will see seven routes removed, including to Albany (ALB), Buffalo (BUF), Hartford-Bradley (BDL), Charleston (CHS), Charlotte (CLT), Norfolk (ORF), and Providence (PVD).
• St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) loses service to Burbank (BUR), Charlotte (CLT), Des Moines (DSM), Little Rock (LIT), Oklahoma City (OKC), Tulsa (TUL), and Wichita (ICT).
• Other affected airports include Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Las Vegas Harry Reid (LAS), Oakland (OAK), Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), Sacramento (SMF), and San Jose (SJC).

A Southwest spokesperson noted that most of the cuts are seasonal, with only 11 routes permanently discontinued. However, as TPG highlighted, all of the dropped flights had been operated year-round prior to this change.

Photo: Clément Alloing

New Focus: Building Connections

While routes are being cut, Southwest is adding flights intended to strengthen its role in connecting traffic. These new services are often short-haul routes designed to feed into larger bases.

For example, the March schedule adds an 80-mile route between Chicago Midway (MDW) and Milwaukee Mitchell (MKE), and a 152-mile connection from Nashville (BNA) to Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson (TYS). Additional new services link MDW with Des Moines (DSM), Wichita (ICT), and Tulsa (TUL), along with Dallas Love Field (DAL) to Oklahoma City (OKC).

As aviation analyst Brett Snyder noted, these changes effectively turn four major Southwest bases — Nashville (BNA), Denver (DEN), Chicago Midway (MDW), and St. Louis (STL) — into structured connecting banks, coordinating arrivals and departures to maximize transfer options.

ALSO READ: Southwest Airlines Adds 14 New Routes and One Destination for 2026

Photo: Cado Photo

Full List of Route Cuts

Below is a detailed breakdown of all routes Southwest Airlines (WN) will end starting March 2026:

Photo: Southwest Airlines

What This Means for Travelers

For passengers, these changes bring both challenges and opportunities. Some nonstop options will disappear, requiring connections, while new short-haul flights expand access to the airline’s growing hubs.

The shift marks a major departure from Southwest’s decades-long identity as a pure point-to-point carrier.

With added bag fees, seat assignments, and now hub-style scheduling, the airline is entering a new era that looks more like its legacy competitors.

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