Southwest Airways is changing into the newest provider to increase service in Florida after the shutdown of Spirit Airways left gaps within the state’s funds journey market.
The airline introduced it’s getting ready its largest-ever schedule at Orlando Worldwide Airport (MCO), with new nonstop routes and expanded service throughout 17 present markets. The transfer follows a wave of airline expansions aimed toward filling a part of the void left by Spirit Airways, which had been a significant low cost provider in Florida.
As Florida Day by day beforehand reported, Frontier Airways, Breeze Airways, and Avianca Airways have all introduced new or expanded Florida service since Spirit’s collapse, together with added flights involving Orlando, Fort Myers, West Palm Seashore, and Tampa.
Southwest’s Orlando growth contains added frequency on 17 present routes, with will increase scheduled in phases all through 2026.
Starting in June, Southwest plans to increase service between Orlando and Austin, Texas; Kansas Metropolis, Missouri; Louisville, Kentucky; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Nashville, Tennessee; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Further will increase are deliberate in August for Baltimore, Maryland; New Orleans, Louisiana; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Rochester, New York. In October, Southwest plans to increase Orlando service to Albuquerque, New Mexico; Buffalo, New York; and Memphis, Tennessee. In November, the airline plans so as to add extra service between Orlando and Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma, and San Antonio, Texas.
Southwest stated the replace will mark its largest Orlando schedule because the airline started service at Orlando Worldwide Airport in 1996. The corporate additionally stated it expects to function greater than 200 each day departures via Orlando in 2027. That may signify a significant improve from 2011, when Southwest stated it provided 110 each day nonstop flights from Orlando.
The airline framed the Orlando growth as a part of a broader dedication to each Orlando and Las Vegas, two of Southwest’s largest leisure and conference markets. Southwest stated it plans so as to add waves of latest flights starting this spring and persevering with via spring 2027, strengthening its place in each cities.
“Las Vegas and Orlando are foundational communities in our community, and locations the place Southwest lengthy has provided probably the most service, seats, and nonstop journey choices,” stated Andrew Watterson, Southwest Airways chief working officer. “We’re bringing extra to our relationship in each locations and including to the tons of of flights a day we already provide in each communities.”
The growth additionally comes as Orlando Worldwide Airport continues to function a key gateway for Florida tourism. Southwest has remained the busiest provider at MCO in the course of the previous two years, in accordance with airport information cited by the Orlando Enterprise Journal. The airline held a 22% market share in each years and served roughly 12.4 million passengers.
Southwest additionally has a big employment footprint in Central Florida. The airline stated greater than 4,700 folks work for Southwest within the Orlando space.
The added Southwest flights might assist soften the impression of Spirit’s shutdown on Florida vacationers, particularly these searching for lower-cost choices to achieve Orlando and different main Florida locations. Spirit’s exit created uncertainty for budget-conscious passengers and opened the door for different carriers to extend service in markets the place demand stays sturdy.
Whereas Southwest shouldn’t be an ultra-low-cost airline in the identical mannequin as Spirit, its bigger Orlando schedule might improve competitors on routes that serve Central Florida’s tourism economic system, residents and conference visitors.
The announcement provides Southwest to the rising checklist of airways shifting shortly to seize passengers in Florida’s post-Spirit market. For Orlando, the growth additionally reinforces the airport’s place as one of the crucial aggressive air journey hubs within the Southeast.
