Expansion Highlights Southwest Airlines’ Increasing Focus on Pittsburgh

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of stories profiling airlines at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Southwest’s recent expansion of its Pittsburgh service, announced earlier this month, includes new nonstop service to Panama City Beach, Fla., Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and Savannah, Ga., as well as expanded service to several existing markets next summer. The growth comes as the airline plans to ramp up service from Pittsburgh International Airport in 2027.

Southwest will operate up to 37 peak daily departures on select days in February, March, June and July next year, marking its largest schedule ever at PIT. By next summer, Southwest will serve 25 nonstop destinations, the most it has ever offered from the airport.

Southwest is PIT’s largest airline by market share, accounting for nearly 26 percent of the airport’s total traffic.

The airline’s success reflects the strong partnership PIT and Southwest have shared for more than two decades, from working together to expand the region’s air service to supporting the airport’s new terminal, which opened last year.

Southwest and PIT celebrated the airline’s 20^th anniversary in Pittsburgh during an event last year.

“Southwest Airlines is an incredible partner with Pittsburgh International Airport and its arrival here 20 years ago was a game-changer for the region. The airline has grown to become the airport’s busiest carrier, demonstrating our strong market,” PIT CEO Christina Cassotis said during the anniversary celebration. “From their support of our new terminal program to multiple air service additions, Southwest has consistently shown its support for Pittsburgh.”

Becoming Pittsburgh’s Top Airline

Southwest began service at PIT on May 4, 2005, with four destinations and just over a dozen daily flights, on average. It was the first major airline and low-cost carrier to enter Pittsburgh following the closure of the US Airways hub, signaling the airport’s shift to an origin-and-destination model that brought more competition and lower fares to the market. It was also the first station that then-Southwest CEO Gary Kelly opened during his tenure.

Southwest started service initially to several markets including Chicago Midway, Las Vegas, and Orlando, with additional additions to Phoenix and Tampa later in 2005, followed by Baltimore in 2007.

Rhett Morgan, senior director of business development for industry consulting firm Ailevon Pacific, said Southwest was a huge win for PIT, not only by filling US Airways’ void, but by enhancing the overall service available in the market.

“Southwest is one of the most highly coveted airlines for cities that are pursuing air service. They have great brand, product, history and longtime success. Even more important is that their network model enables unique growth and lots of optionality from its hybrid of a point-to-point and hub-and-spoke network,” he said.

In 2011, Southwest acquired AirTran Airways for $1.4 billion, further expanding its national footprint. The acquisition brought AirTran’s PIT network into Southwest’s operation, adding Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers, along with more service to Orlando and Tampa.

During the 2010s, Southwest added more destinations from its major cities, including Denver in 2011, Houston Hobby and Nashville in 2013, and Dallas Love Field in 2015. These additions restored nonstop service between Pittsburgh and Nashville, a former US Airways route, and increased competition in the Dallas, Denver and Houston markets.

By 2016, Southwest became PIT’s largest airline by total passengers, a position it still holds today.

Expanding Point-to-Point Flying

By adding key markets from Pittsburgh, Southwest has continued to grow its customer base, enabling the airline to also expand its point-to-point flying to business and leisure destinations. These routes connect markets with nonstop service that might otherwise require passengers to connect.

In 2017, Southwest launched its first international flights from Pittsburgh with seasonal, Saturday-only service to Cancun, Mexico. Beginning in 2027, the airline will expand its international service at PIT. Cancun flights will resume earlier in February and gain an additional Sunday flight in June, while Saturday-only service to Punta Cana will also begin in June.

Southwest also capitalized on the post-pandemic leisure travel boom by adding Miami, Myrtle Beach and Sarasota to its PIT network in 2021. All three destinations have since gained additional service through increased frequencies or expanded seasonal schedules. That same year, the airline launched seasonal, weekly nonstop service to Austin, a growing business market for Pittsburgh’s technology industry. The route has since expanded to daily, year-round service.

In 2024, Southwest launched nonstop service to San Diego, addressing one of Pittsburgh’s largest unserved markets and strengthening PIT’s West Coast network.

In 2025, Southwest launched its first nonstop service between Pittsburgh and Northwest Florida with seasonal, Saturday-only flights to Destin-Fort Walton Beach. Strong demand has prompted the airline to expand the route less than a year after its launch. Service will resume earlier, in March, with an additional Sunday flight before expanding to daily service in June.

In February 2027, Southwest will resume weekly nonstop flights to West Palm Beach, which it last served in 2018. The route will complement existing daily service to Fort Lauderdale and Miami, strengthening the airline’s South Florida network during the winter and spring.

Southwest will further expand its Northwest Florida service with seasonal, Saturday-only flights to Panama City Beach beginning in June 2027. The airline will also launch seasonal Saturday service to Savannah, Ga., that month. Panama City Beach will become a new destination on PIT’s route map, while Southwest will become the second airline to offer nonstop service to Savannah, joining Allegiant Air.

Strengthening Florida Service

Southwest is a major contributor to PIT’s air service to Florida, the airport’s top market. On average, Southwest carries nearly 1,300 passengers per day in both directions between Pittsburgh and Florida. In addition, Southwest carries 44 percent of the airport’s total traffic in that market (Florida accounts for nearly a quarter of PIT’s total traffic).

By next summer, Southwest will serve nine nonstop destinations in Florida, second only to Allegiant (10). Southwest will also offer the largest number of seats it has ever scheduled between Pittsburgh and Florida.

“We appreciate the support from the Pittsburgh and Allegheny County community, which has allowed us to grow and serve the community with more service to the places customers want to visit,” Mike Gillock, Regional Manager of Airport Affairs at Southwest Airlines, said at least year’s celebration.