Southwest Airlines has released their latest schedule which runs through January 4, 2021, and to say the airline is optimistic about a recovery from the impact of COVID-19 is an understatement. The latest schedule which includes flights for November and December of this year is only reduced less than 2% from last year.

The largest increases in flights come to Phoenix (PHX); Denver (DEN); Las Vegas (LAS); and Nashville (BNA). Southwest’s recovery plan is a far cry from Delta Air Lines who’s currently under water for cutting too many flights from its schedule and the inability to bring them back fast enough.

Per Southwest Airlines, other highlights include:

More Reach from Long Beach
Effective Nov. 1, 2020, Southwest will add roundtrip service nonstop between Long Beach and Phoenix three times daily, as well as once daily nonstop service between Long Beach and Austin.

Music City to Orange County
Effective Nov. 2, 2020, Southwest will add new nonstop service once a day (except Sundays) between Nashville and Orange County/Santa Ana, Calif.

The carrier also will offer nonstop service between Ontario, Calif.and Houston (Hobby) once a day (except Saturdays), beginning Nov. 1, 2020.

New Routes for Atlanta and Denver Customers
Effective Dec. 17, 2020, Southwest will add several new nonstop links between cities across the nation:

• Phoenix and Memphis, Tenn. – Once daily
• Denver and Birmingham, Ala. – Once daily
• Denver and Wichita, Kan. – Once daily
• Denver and Little Rock, Ark. – Once daily
• Atlanta and Oklahoma City – Three roundtrips daily, reestablishing nonstop service previously offered in 2016
• Atlanta and Omaha, Neb. – Three roundtrips daily
• Atlanta and Louisville, Ky. – Three roundtrips daily, reestablishing nonstop service previously offered in 2014

International Schedule Update
Southwest continues to monitor conditions in 14 international destinations on the carrier’s network map and update operational plans. The carrier currently plans to resume service to Mexico and the Caribbean via Cancun, San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos, Havana, Montego Bay, and Nassau on July 1, 2020, subject to change.

It’s great to see these new routes being added by Southwest Airlines, but what’s most exciting is that Southwest Airlines is planning to fully restore its November and December schedule this year. Let’s hope other airlines can follow, and that thousands of jobs can be saved as a result.

What are your thought on Southwest Airlines latest schedule? Are you as optimistic as the low-cost carrier that travel will return by the end of year? Feel free to share your comments below.