After several years, Southwest Airlines has just announced its second new city in several months.
Southwest will land next spring at McGee Tyson Airport (TYS) near Knoxville, Tennessee as part of a 14-way expansion.
In addition to four new routes to TYS, the Dallas-based airline will add 10 new routes to some of its key bases starting in March 2026: Chicago’s Midway International Airport (MDW), Nashville International Airport (BNA), Phoenix Skyport International Airport (PHX), and San Diego International Airport (SAN).
The new route is part of Southwest’s latest schedule, from March 5, 2026 to April 6, 2026. Tickets are now on sale.
Knoxville
Southwest Airlines will land on March 5, 2026 on TYS with five flights per day:
- TYS to Baltimore – Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), daily
- Go to BNA twice a day
- Arrive at Dallas Love Field (DAL) every day
- Daily to Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Knoxville is the third airport in southwestern Tennessee, behind only BNA and Memphis International Airport (MEM). Located in the west of the Appalachian Mountains, Knoxville is home to Tennessee’s largest university campus, offering convenient attractions such as Dollywood and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
One might argue that the flight marks the return of Southwest Airlines. From 2011 to 2012, the airline merged to 2014, Airtran Airways, a one-time subsidiary of the airline, serves the airport.
Respond to San Diego’s Alaska
Southwest Airlines will add seven new NONSTOPs from SAN in March, which appears to be a direct response to Alaska Airlines’ recent expansion at Southern California airports.
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New daily SAN flights connect to Eugene Airport and Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon, Oregon, Kahului Airport (OGG) in Hawaii, and Puerto diazdíazdíaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR) in Valata, Mexico
Southwest will also add two Saturday-only seasonal routes to SAN starting March 7, 2026: Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) in Montana and Spokane International Airport (GEG) in Washington.
Cirium timeline shows that all new SAN routes compete directly with Alaska.
According to schedule data, Alaska seats in the third quarter rose 9% in the third quarter compared to last year. Seats in the southwest of the airport’s largest airline grew by just 2%.
When it opens on September 23, Southwest Airlines will move to SAN’s new terminal.
New “hub” connector
Finally, Southwest will add three new routes to send new connections into its “hub”. The airline does not officially have a hub like other operators. However, some foundations are large enough that connectivity occurs naturally.
New connector routing includes:
- BNA to Clinton National Airport (LIT) in Little Rock, Arkansas, twice a day
- MDW arrives at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) twice a day
- PHX to Tucson International Airport (TUS), twice a day
According to the U.S. Transportation Agency through Cirium, all three routes have fewer than 11 daily travelers in 2024. However, they will improve Southwest’s flight connectivity options on BNA, MDW and PHX.
Bottom line
Southwest Airlines’ latest expansion comes weeks after the airline revealed its first new destination since St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The airline has ridiculed at least one new city in the near future.
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