Southwest Airlines is quietly becoming more of an international player. The Dallas-based carrier, still the world's largest Boeing 737 operator, has rolled out five new routes beyond US borders for the winter season, which runs from late October 2026 through March 27, 2027.
The first of the batch took off on November 1: Las Vegas to Puerto Vallarta on Mexico's Pacific Coast, with up to six flights a week. It's Southwest's third international destination from Harry Reid International, joining Cancun and San Jose del Cabo. Notably, no other airline flies that Las Vegas-Puerto Vallarta pairing nonstop. The route also cements Southwest's position as Puerto Vallarta's second-largest international carrier by destinations served, with nine US links behind WestJet's 12 and ahead of United and Delta at six each.
The biggest news for holiday planners, though, may be Nashville. Music City is getting two brand-new nonstop international routes, both with zero competition: Liberia in Costa Rica from February 13, 2027, and the Caribbean island of Aruba from March 13, 2027. Southwest already dominates Nashville's airport with over 56% of the market, well ahead of American and Delta, and the new services slot into an existing international lineup that includes Cancun, San Juan, Aruba, Montego Bay, San Jose, Cabo and St. Thomas.
Austin gets in on the act too. From March 13, Southwest will fly nonstop from the Texas capital to San Jose, Costa Rica — a route no other airline serves. Southwest holds around 41% of flights at Austin Bergstrom, fending off an aggressive Delta expansion, and has even more international growth planned from the city later next year, including Nassau, Punta Cana and Liberia.
The fifth route gives Columbus, Ohio a rare long-haul-feeling option: nonstop service to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic from March 13. This is the only one of the five with competition — Breeze Airways flies the same pairing — so travellers may see some fare action on that route.
What does this mean for travellers? Mainly, easier beach winter escapes from middle-American cities that historically had thin international service. Nashville, Austin and Columbus flyers can now reach Costa Rica, Aruba and the Dominican Republic without connecting through a coastal hub, and often on the only nonstop in the market. Southwest's open seating and free checked bags keep the total trip cost competitive, and the winter schedule timing lines up neatly with peak sun-seeking season. Just note the staggered start dates: Las Vegas-Puerto Vallarta is already flying, Liberia and Austin-San Jose begin in mid-February, and the Aruba and Punta Cana routes wait until mid-March.
