Southwest Expands Austin Flights with Four New Nonstop Routes

New destinations include Memphis, Destin, Knoxville, and Santa Rosa starting in October 2026.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Southwest Airlines is continuing to grow its presence at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport with the addition of four new nonstop routes starting in October 2026. The new destinations include Memphis, Destin, Knoxville, and Santa Rosa, complementing the airline's existing service and making it the largest carrier at the airport.

Why it matters

The expansion of Southwest's service at AUS reflects the airline's commitment to the Austin market and the continued growth in air travel demand to and from the city. The new routes will provide more options for travelers and further cement Southwest's dominance at the airport.

The details

The new nonstop routes include year-round service to Memphis, operating six days a week, as well as seasonal service to Destin, Florida, Knoxville, Tennessee, and Santa Rosa, California. Some of these destinations, like Destin and Santa Rosa, will be new nonstop options from AUS. The new flights are in addition to five other new routes Southwest previously announced for March and June.

  • The new routes will launch on October 1, 2026 for Memphis and October 3, 2026 for Destin, Knoxville, and Santa Rosa.
  • Southwest is also opening a new crew base at AUS in March 2026, bringing an estimated 2,000 jobs to the city.

The players

Southwest Airlines

A major U.S. airline and the largest carrier at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, accounting for 41% of passenger traffic in 2025.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)

The primary commercial airport serving the city of Austin, Texas.

Adam Decaire

Southwest's senior vice president of network planning.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We are continuing to add more Southwest service for our customers in the places where we're already strong. We will meet our Customers where they are with an enhanced product that complements our best-in-class reliability and service.”

— Adam Decaire, Senior Vice President of Network Planning, Southwest Airlines (kxan.com)

What’s next

Southwest's new crew base at AUS is set to open in March 2026, bringing an estimated 2,000 jobs to the city.

The takeaway

Southwest's continued expansion at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport demonstrates the airline's commitment to the growing Austin market and its position as the dominant carrier at the airport. The new nonstop routes will provide more travel options for passengers and further solidify Southwest's presence in the region.