Southwest Airlines, once the definition of a no-frills domestic carrier, has been quietly shedding its old identity. Assigned seating, premium cabins, lounges, overnight flights and even baggage fees have all arrived, pushed along by activist investor Elliott Management. The next chapter could be the most surprising of all: widebody, long-haul flying with the Boeing 787-9.
Nothing is confirmed, and the analysis circulating in July 2025 via aviation data firm Enilria is speculation. But the logic holds up. The 787-9 is the world's workhorse long-haul jet, and secondhand airframes could let Southwest move fast. A possible route to a deal runs through Norse Atlantic, the struggling Norwegian carrier that recently leased six 787-9s to India's IndiGo — an arrangement that ended early and left Norse hunting for new homes for its widebodies before winter. A big caveat: Southwest would need a new agreement with its pilots' union over widebody operations and long-haul pay, which could take years, so aircraft might sit idle even if acquired.
So where would flights actually launch? Long-haul routes need connecting passengers, not just point-to-point demand, so Southwest's busiest hubs with the strongest transfer traffic are the contenders. Las Vegas, now the airline's busiest airport with roughly 20,600 daily transfer passengers, is a plausible pick — its global fame could support even Asian services. Denver, Southwest's top connecting airport in absolute terms, is possible despite United's dominance there. Baltimore could work for Southern Europe destinations beyond the 737 MAX's range, though the city has little international name recognition. Nashville is an intriguing option as European carriers keep adding routes there. Meanwhile, Chicago Midway is ruled out on runway length alone, and Phoenix, Dallas Love, Houston Hobby, San Diego and Orlando all look unlikely for one reason or another.
As for destinations, expect conservatism rather than anything exotic. London and Paris would be the obvious first stops, with Dublin and Edinburgh — hugely popular with American travellers — strong early candidates. Southern Europe is where demand is booming, so Athens, Barcelona, Rome, Naples and Venice all fit the pattern, though Lisbon's slot restrictions could complicate things. There's also an argument Southwest might follow Alaska Airlines' lead and prioritise Asia over Europe.
Why should travellers care? Southwest's entry into long-haul would shake up transatlantic fares, and its vast domestic network means easy one-stop connections from smaller US cities onto a widebody — something legacy carriers charge a premium for. Realistically, don't expect tickets soon: union talks, aircraft sourcing and network planning all take time. But if you've been waiting for a budget-friendly way to fly from, say, Nashville or Baltimore to Athens via your hometown airport, this is the rumor to watch.
