Southwest Airlines is adding five new domestic routes to its network this week, expanding connectivity from two of its important airports: Nashville International Airport (BNA) and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). The new services connect Tennessee and Texas with destinations in New Hampshire, Nevada, California, Florida, and Tennessee, giving travelers more nonstop options as the airline enters October.
According to data from Cirium, the new routes include two services from Nashville beginning October 1 and three services from Austin, with the latter launching between October 1 and October 3. The expansion includes both year-round and seasonal operations, while several of the new routes will increase in frequency after their initial launch.
The additions also highlight the continuing importance of Nashville and Austin within Southwest’s network. Both cities have developed into substantial operating bases for the airline, allowing Southwest to connect passengers directly with markets that previously required a connection or another carrier.
Southwest Airlines Adds Nashville to Manchester and Reno
The first two routes launching from Nashville will give Southwest passengers new nonstop access to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) and Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO). Both services are scheduled to begin on October 1, although they will start with different frequencies.
The Nashville-Manchester service will initially operate four times per week. Southwest plans to increase the route to a daily operation, making it the airline’s fourth year-round route serving Manchester. The New Hampshire airport is located roughly 50 miles north of Boston, providing an alternative gateway for travelers heading to the Boston region and surrounding parts of New England.
The new Nashville-Reno service will initially operate twice weekly, with Southwest planning to increase the frequency to six flights per week. Reno, often known as the “Biggest Little City in the World,” will gain its ninth year-round Southwest destination through the new service. It will also become the airline’s farthest-east destination from Reno.
These additions give Nashville passengers access to two geographically distinct destinations without requiring a connection. They also demonstrate how Southwest is using its existing network to establish additional links between markets that can support direct leisure and business travel.
Austin Adds New Southwest Flights to Memphis, Sonoma County and Destin
Austin will account for the other three new Southwest routes, with the first arriving on October 1. The airline will begin nonstop service between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Memphis International Airport (MEM) six times per week before increasing the operation to daily service.
The Austin-Memphis route adds another important connection between two major Southern markets. For Memphis, the new service will become the airport’s tenth year-round Southwest destination. Southwest, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines each account for close to one-fifth of Memphis airport operations by passengers carried, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics data cited in the reference material.
Two more Austin routes will begin on October 3, connecting the Texas capital with Sonoma County Airport (STS) in California and Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) in Florida.
The Austin-Sonoma County service will operate once weekly and is scheduled as a seasonal route through October 24. The new link becomes the fifth Southwest service at Sonoma County, giving travelers in the Austin area a direct option for reaching California’s North Bay region.
The Austin-Destin-Fort Walton Beach service will also operate once weekly through October 24. The seasonal route connects Austin with Florida’s Okaloosa County and becomes the airport’s eighth nonstop Southwest service.
Southwest’s October Network Remains Concentrated at Major Airports
The five new routes arrive as Southwest maintains a particularly large schedule at several of its busiest airports. Cirium data shows that Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and Denver International Airport (DEN) will each handle more than 1,750 Southwest flights during the first week of October 2026.
Las Vegas is scheduled for approximately 1,778 Southwest flights, followed closely by Denver with 1,755. Chicago Midway ranks third with 1,458, while Baltimore/Washington International Airport follows with 1,441. Nashville ranks fifth with 1,420 Southwest operations, underscoring the scale of the airline’s presence there.
The numbers put the five new routes into broader context. Southwest is not simply adding isolated city pairs; it is continuing to build connectivity around airports where it already has substantial schedules. Nashville’s position among the carrier’s busiest airports makes it particularly significant for expanding direct service to new destinations.
The October additions therefore provide a mixture of year-round network growth and seasonal capacity, while giving passengers more nonstop choices from Nashville and Austin. For travelers planning trips in the coming months, the new routes could also create additional opportunities to avoid connecting itineraries on journeys between these growing Southwest markets.
