Southwest Airlines Cuts 11 International Routes: Which Flights Have Been Cut — And What’s Next

Southwest has permanently canceled 11 international routes to Mexico and the Caribbean and is walking away from two major U.S. airports. Here’s the complete breakdown — and what affected travelers must do now.

Southwest Airlines is permanently eliminating 11 international routes while shutting down operations at Chicago O’Hare and Washington Dulles airports, effective June 4, 2026.

The Southwest flight reductions are part of what Chief Executive Officer Bob Jordan has characterized as the most remarkable set of changes any airline has undertaken in his nearly four decades in the industry — a sweeping overhaul steering the Dallas-based low-cost carrier away from its traditional point-to-point leisure model and toward a hub-and-spoke structure, assigned seating, premium cabin sections, airport lounges, baggage fees, and eventual long-haul international flying.

Southwest first flew internationally in July 2014. In the years since, it has transported approximately 40 million international passengers — yet the segment accounted for just 2% of the carrier’s total traffic over that period. In 2025, Southwest carried 4 million international passengers, ranking as only the fifth-best international traffic year on record. That figure represents a 12% decline from the carrier’s 2018 peak, which had itself followed an 18% reduction in flight frequencies.

The 11 Canceled Routes

A schedule comparison using Cirium Diio data and U.S. Department of Transportation records confirmed the permanent removal of the following routes:

• Baltimore (BWI) to Los Cabos (SJD): June 2015 – April 2026 (71.5% load factor)
• Chicago Midway (MDW) to Los Cabos (SJD): November 2018 – April 2026
• Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to Cancun (CUN): November 2021 – April 2026 (83.4% load factor in 2025, its lowest in four years)
• Colorado Springs (COS) to Cancun (CUN): June 2025 – April 4, 2026 (42.9% load factor; 1,725 total passengers)
• Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Montego Bay (MBJ): June 2017 – November 2025 (69.7% load factor)
• Indianapolis (IND) to Los Cabos (SJD): Seasonal service, March–April 2026 only
• Kansas City (MCI) to Montego Bay (MBJ): October 2023 – April 2026 (60.4% load factor)
• Milwaukee (MKE) to Cancun (CUN): August 2014 – April 2026
• Nashville (BNA) to Montego Bay (MBJ): Seasonal service, March–April 2026 only
• Nashville (BNA) to San José, Costa Rica (SJO): Seasonal service, March–April 2026 only
• Louis (STL) to Puerto Vallarta (PVR): Two total departures in March 2026 only

The O’Hare Exit and FAA Flight Caps

Southwest’s departure from O’Hare — where it held roughly a 2% capacity share and operated fewer than 100 weekly flights against a combined American Airlines and United share of approximately 80% — was accelerated by Federal Aviation Administration summer flight caps. Driven by runway construction, air traffic control staffing shortages, and airspace congestion, the FAA capped daily operations at O’Hare at 2,708 flights from June 2 through October 24, 2026, stripping 372 daily flights from previously planned airline schedules.

DePaul University transportation expert Joe Schwieterman observed that the FAA cap created an immediate operational barrier for Southwest, noting that a potential mandate to cut flights by 10% to 15% would be extremely difficult for the carrier to absorb given its minimal footprint at the airport. Southwest chose to preemptively exit O’Hare and consolidate all 15 previously served markets into its Chicago Midway base, where it commands a 92% capacity share and generates more than 1,450 weekly departures.

Hurricane Melissa and the Jamaica Routes

Southwest terminated Fort Lauderdale–Montego Bay in November 2025 following Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall in Jamaica in late October 2025 with sustained winds of 185 mph (298 km/h). The storm left more than 25,000 tourists stranded, blocked coastal roads, and temporarily closed airports. With the leisure market decimated and the recovery timeline too long to justify the route’s 69.7% load factor, Southwest permanently removed the service.

Colorado Springs: A Cautionary Case

Colorado Springs Airport constructed a 14,000-square-foot Federal Inspection Services (FIS) customs facility costing $7.8 million — funded largely through a $6.4 million FAA grant under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — to process international arrivals. City aviation director Greg Phillips and Southwest Senior Manager of Network Planning Becky Kotara championed the weekly Saturday-only service, which launched June 7, 2025, as the first international flight in the airport’s history. Southwest filled just 42.9% of available seats throughout the route’s entire lifespan, carrying only 1,725 passengers. Travelers in southern Colorado consistently chose Denver International Airport for its superior schedule flexibility, leaving the newly built FIS facility largely underutilized. The final departure operated April 4, 2026.

A Tighter but Still Active International Network

Despite the cuts, Southwest has scheduled 65 international routes for the third quarter of 2026 from 21 U.S. airports, averaging 40 daily international departures. Orlando leads all gateways with 829 scheduled Q3 departures, followed by Houston Hobby (792), Baltimore (582), Phoenix (256), and Denver (183). Saturdays peak at as many as 87 outbound international departures; Tuesdays and Wednesdays fall as low as 22. Atlanta is the least-served international gateway, with only four Cancun departures scheduled throughout the summer season.

On June 4, Southwest will launch three new international routes from Las Vegas — where it is the airport’s largest operator — connecting to Cancun, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta. The carrier also recently reintroduced San Diego–Puerto Vallarta, Kansas City–Punta Cana, and Orlando–St. Croix, signaling that targeted international growth remains viable at high-yield focus cities.

What Affected Travelers Must Do

Passengers holding tickets at O’Hare or Dulles on or after June 4 have no active reservations in Southwest’s system. The airline is offering full refunds to the original form of payment or a free itinerary change to flights departing within 14 days of the original travel date, with all fare differences waived. Chicago-area travelers may rebook via Midway (MDW), Milwaukee Mitchell (MKE), or Indianapolis (IND); Washington-area travelers can use Baltimore/Washington (BWI) or Reagan National (DCA).

Travelers canceling international bookings should note that foreign government taxes and fees are legally refundable to the original payment method but are not always triggered automatically. Passengers must request a manual tax refund through Southwest’s customer service channels. All cancellations must be completed at least 10 minutes before scheduled departure to avoid the ticket being classified as a no-show, which forfeits the full booking value.