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Southwest Airlines has opened bookings for its Spring 2027 schedule. It’s adding a bunch of new routes, increased frequencies, and record-breaking operations at several of its largest focus cities. Among the announcements is one route that has generated plenty of discussion on X: a 100-mile nonstop flight between Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
Beginning March 11th, Southwest will operate the route 2x daily, making it one of the shortest flights in the airline’s network. While the flight itself will last only around 30 to 40 minutes, its primary purpose isn’t local traffic. It’s designed to connect passengers to destinations across the Southwest network including cities in the Caribbean such as San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU).
The new service arrives despite strong competition from other transportation options. Amtrak’s Northeast Regional and Acela trains connect Philadelphia and Baltimore in roughly 70 to 90 minutes (driving typically takes about two hours). As a result, the route has already sparked debate among aviation and rail enthusiasts. Some argue it highlights the lack of robust high-speed rail in the United States while others point out that connecting flights serve a very different purpose than point-to-point train travel.
Other new routes starting in March 2027 include:
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to/from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) (4x weekly; dates not yet announced)
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to/from San Jose’s Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) (1x weekly; starts on April 3rd)
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) to/from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) (1x weekly; starts on March 13th)
- Dallas Love Field (DAL) to/from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) (6x weekly; starts on March 11th)
- Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to/from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) (at least 3x weekly; starts on March 11th)
- Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to/from Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) (frequency and dates not yet announced)
- Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to/from Miami International Airport (MIA) (4x weekly; starts on March 17th)
- Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to/from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) (4x weekly; starts on March 17th)
- Nashville International Airport (BNA) to/from Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) (1x weekly; starts on March 13th)
- Nashville International Airport (BNA) to/from Des Moines International Airport (DSM) (daily; dates not yet announced)
- Nashville International Airport (BNA) to/from Liberia’s Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) (1x weekly; starts on March 6th)
- Nashville International Airport (BNA) to/from Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport (MBJ) (1x weekly; starts on March 13th)
- Nashville International Airport (BNA) to/from Saint Thomas’ Cyril E. King Airport (STT) (1x weekly; starts on March 20th)
- Nashville International Airport (BNA) to/from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) (daily; dates not yet announced)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO) to/from Pensacola International Airport (PNS) (daily; starts on March 21st)
In Hawaii, Southwest is increasing service between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and both Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) and Ontario International Airport (ONT) to 5x weekly flights. It’s also adding weekend service from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to/from Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA) and Lihue Airport (LIH). The carrier will also introduce its first-ever “reverse redeye,” which departs Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) at 2:45 AM and heads to Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL).
Anthony’s Take: With more than 4,400 daily departures on peak travel days, Southwest says its March 2027 schedule will be its largest yet and continues its strategy of strengthening service in key markets while adding new connectivity throughout its network. The new Baltimore to/from Philadelphia route may be the most talked-about addition, but for Southwest, but it’s good to see Southwest planning so many seasonal additions.
(Image Credits: Southwest Airlines.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
