Southwest to Cut Select Atlanta Routes and Increase Service to Orlando

The changes won't happen until 2025.

By Michael Cappetta Michael Cappetta

Michael Cappetta is a travel writer with over 10 years of experience in journalism and television news. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on September 26, 2024

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Courtesy of Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines is on the move with new routes, while trimming others.

Specifically, the airline confirmed on Thursday to Travel + Leisure that it’s cutting service at the the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

While the airline told T+L that the new schedule changes at ATL won't take place for another six months, it'll increase focus on, what they consider, popular destinations for the airline such as Austin and Denver, while cutting underperforming routes such as Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Philadelphia, and Louisville.

A full listing of the flight schedule changes was not immediately available. 

The airline will also begin new, nonstop service between Orlando and San Diego. The 5-hour and 20-minute flight will be operated five times a week, and tickets are currently on sale. Southwest is also starting service between Orlando and Richmond. Both routes will begin on April 10, 2025.

“We continue to optimize our network to meet customer demand, best utilize our fleet, and maximize revenue opportunities,” a Southwest Airlines spokesperson shared in a statement to Travel + Leisure. “Decisions like these are difficult for our company because of the effects on our people, but we have a history of more than 53 years of ensuring they are taken care of.”

Also this week, Southwest announced they would be expanding flights from Nashville, including new service to Albany, Albuquerque, Jackson, Memphis, and Tulsa. In August, Southwest announced that Baltimore, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles would be among the first markets to receive newly-launched overnight flight routes that will provide more travel options for passengers. 

The flurry of route changes come as Southwest Airlines has been under additional scrutiny from investors over profitability and growth, and come as the airline recently hosted an Investor’s Day that announced a partnership with Icelandair for international flight connections.