DALLAS— Southwest Airlines (WN) has announced new routes through June 3, 2026, including international service to Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) in St. Maarten and a fresh interline partnership with EVA Air (BR).
Starting April 7, 2026, Southwest (WN) will launch daily flights from Orlando (MCO) to St. Maarten (SXM), expanding two days later with weekend service to Baltimore/Washington (BWI). At the same time, its new partnership with EVA Air (BR) opens access to transpacific connections from key U.S. hubs, including Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO).
Photo: Tim | FlickrSouthwest New Destination: St.Marteen
St. Maarten marks Southwest’s first new international destination since 2021. Known for its split Dutch and French territories, the island offers a blend of European and Caribbean culture.
From April 7, 2026, Southwest will operate once-daily round-trips between Orlando (MCO) and St. Maarten (SXM).
Two days later, peak weekend service begins from Baltimore/Washington (BWI), creating nonstop links that feed into more than 45 U.S. cities. These flights are subject to final government approvals.
By adding St. Maarten to its map, Southwest strengthens its Caribbean presence, which already includes popular stops like Montego Bay (MBJ), Nassau (NAS), and San Juan (SJU).
Eva_Air_Airbus_A330-200_ Photo: AirbusA New Partnership Across the Pacific
Southwest’s agreement with EVA Air (BR), part of the Evergreen Group, creates new one-ticket itineraries linking U.S. domestic routes with Asia. The interline setup covers shared gateways at Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle-Tacoma (SEA), and Chicago O’Hare (ORD).
Customers can now book through EVA Air’s website or travel agencies, combining Southwest’s domestic network with EVA’s transpacific service.
EVA operates nearly 90 weekly flights from Taipei (TPE) to North American cities, including Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), Houston (IAH), and Toronto (YYZ). The airline also plans to add Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to its network in October 2025.
This partnership makes EVA Air Southwest’s third airline collaborator, following earlier interline agreements with other international carriers.
New U.S. Domestic Routes
Southwest is also expanding at home. Starting April 9, 2026, the carrier will add seasonal weekend nonstop flights between Knoxville (TYS) and Denver (DEN).
This builds on its recent Knoxville service announcement and offers customers faster access to the Rocky Mountains.
In addition, a new seasonal Saturday service will connect Chicago O’Hare (ORD) with Panama City (ECP) in Florida, enhancing leisure travel options between the Midwest and the Gulf Coast.
Photo: Aero Icarus | FlickrInt’l Expansion, Talks With Pilots, Attendants
Southwest Airlines (WN) has begun talks with pilots and flight attendants as it prepares for a wider push into new international markets.
The carrier, headquartered at Dallas Love Field (DAL), is working with the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) and TWU Local 556 to create agreements that would enable flights beyond its current routes in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Southwest Airlines has formally notified TWU Local 556, which represents tens of thousands of flight attendants, of its intent to negotiate a side agreement that would support expanded international operations. A parallel effort is underway with SWAPA, the union representing pilots.
The negotiations center on adjustments to working conditions required for long-haul flying. Key issues include duty hours, rest periods, and incentive pay structures tailored to destinations outside the Americas. Since the existing contracts were designed for Southwest’s mostly domestic network, new agreements are critical before any global expansion can move forward.
Southwest entered international service in 2014, decades after operating solely within the United States. Despite this move, its global footprint remains small compared with larger U.S. carriers such as Delta Air Lines (DL), United Airlines (UA), and American Airlines (AA).
Preparing for Future Routes
Southwest Airlines has already confirmed plans to launch nonstop service to Reykjavík–Keflavík Airport (KEF) in 2026.
This marks the airline’s first scheduled service to Europe. Chief Executive Officer Bob Jordan has signaled that this could be the beginning of a much broader international strategy, potentially extending to Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
To lay the groundwork, the airline has filed documentation with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) seeking permission to operate flights under existing Open Skies agreements.
These international treaties allow U.S. airlines to fly freely to partner countries without restrictive limits, opening access to regions such as the European Union, United Kingdom, Japan (NRT, HND), South Korea (ICN), Australia (SYD), India (DEL, BOM), and Thailand (BKK).
Photo: By John Murphy – Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31532724About Airlines
Southwest Airlines (WN), headquartered in Dallas, currently serves 117 airports across 11 countries. In 2024, it carried more than 140 million passengers, the most of any U.S. airline. With over 72,000 employees, Southwest maintains a reputation for low-cost fares paired with customer-focused service.
EVA Air (BR), based in Taipei, Taiwan, has been a SKYTRAX 5-Star Airline for ten consecutive years. It has built a strong North American presence over three decades, linking Taipei (TPE) with major U.S. and Canadian cities. The carrier continues to grow, with new destinations and expanded frequencies in its transpacific network.
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