Southwest unveils 11-route expansion across 15 cities for summer 2027

Southwest Airlines is planning its biggest flight schedule ever for next summer, with a big focus in Austin, Nashville in San Diego.The Dallas-based carrier on Friday announced an 11-route expansion that includes new service to Costa Rica, Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas.Nine of the routes are flights Southwest has never offered before.As part of its summer 2027 "route drop," the airline will link Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to three new destinations in the Caribbean and Central America.AUS was the biggest winner overall, with a total of seven completely new or returning routes launching starting in June.Southwest Airlines planes at Nashville International Airport (BNA). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYElsewhere, Nashville International Airport (BNA) will get two new island destinations and a few additional domestic flights.And San Diego International Airport (SAN) will land new service to the Deep South, along with a host of additional flights to cities it's already served.Southwest's new and returning routesHere's the rundown of the routes Southwest is launching and bringing back next summer.This new service will run during the peak summer season between June 3 and Au...