Southwest’s landmark deal with Singapore Airlines opens Asia, Europe, Africa, and the South Pacific to U.S. passengers — one ticket, one bag drop, more than 130 destinations.
Southwest Airlines on Monday signed an interline agreement with Singapore Airlines, giving the Dallas-based carrier’s passengers single-ticket access to more than 130 international destinations spanning Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, and the South Pacific.
The deal, unveiled June 8 at the 82nd International Air Transport Association Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, marks Southwest’s eighth interline partnership and its fourth new international airline tie-up within the past year — the latest and most globally prominent step in the Dallas carrier’s strategy to build international reach without operating long-haul flights itself.
HOW THE PARTNERSHIP WORKS
The two airlines share three U.S. gateway airports: Los Angeles International (LAX), San Francisco International (SFO), and Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA). Passengers arriving on Singapore Airlines flights at those three airports can connect directly onto Southwest’s domestic network; conversely, Southwest travelers connecting at those cities can transfer to Singapore Airlines for onward international service.
Tickets for combined itineraries are available through Singapore Airlines, travel agents, and travel websites. Checked bags travel through to the final destination.
“With this new agreement, Customers can access one-ticket journeys between the U.S. and Singapore, connecting seamlessly between our network and Singapore Airlines’ global operation.”
— Andrew Watterson, chief operating officer, Southwest Airlines, LinkedIn, June 8, 2026
In the official company press release, Watterson elaborated on the strategic importance of the new partner:
“Singapore Airlines becomes the eighth carrier in our partnership portfolio exemplified by its quality and reach. These carriers are facilitating access to our network for a growing global audience drawn to our improved onboard product and increasingly choosing to fly with us. Journeys that pair Southwest and Singapore Airlines not only connect new geographies but also create consistent high-quality Customer experiences.”
— Andrew Watterson, chief operating officer, Southwest Airlines, official press release, June 8, 2026
A DOMESTIC GIANT REACHES TOWARD THE WORLD
Southwest is the largest domestic carrier by nonstop passengers within the United States. The airline serves 122 airports across 12 countries, employs more than 73,000 full-time-equivalent workers, and carried more than 134 million customers in 2025.
The SIA Group — which includes Singapore Airlines and Scoot — operates service to more than 130 destinations in 35 countries and territories. Singapore Airlines, which the official Southwest press release describes as “the world’s most awarded airline,” anchors the group’s global network, covering Southeast Asia, North Asia, Europe, Africa, the South Pacific, and South Asia, among other regions.
The agreement also benefits Singapore Airlines directly. Southwest serves numerous secondary cities and leisure destinations not easily accessible through other airline partnerships, broadening Singapore Airlines’ reach within the U.S. market and strengthening its competitive position against rival global carriers.
INTERLINE VS. CODESHARE: WHAT TRAVELERS SHOULD KNOW
The Southwest-Singapore Airlines arrangement is a simple interline agreement, not a codeshare. Under an interline agreement, airlines coordinate passenger itineraries and checked baggage across multiple carriers, allowing travelers to complete journeys on a single ticket while flying with more than one airline. A codeshare involves a deeper level of cooperation, with one airline placing its flight code on services operated by another carrier and selling seats directly on those flights.
Travelers should note the agreement carries no loyalty program integration. Southwest Rapid Rewards miles cannot be earned or redeemed on Singapore Airlines flights, and Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer miles do not apply to Southwest itineraries. The two airlines also do not synchronize schedules under the interline arrangement.
EIGHT PARTNERS, FOUR IN THE PAST YEAR
The Singapore Airlines deal rounds out an international partner portfolio Southwest has assembled at an accelerating pace. The carrier’s current international interline partners are All Nippon Airways, China Airlines, Condor, EVA Air, Icelandair, Philippine Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Singapore Airlines. Southwest previously launched new interline relationships with China Airlines, ANA, and Condor as part of a wider strategy to transform its international connectivity.
“Interline partnerships are an important part of how we continue to extend the reach of our network, and Singapore Airlines makes eight!”
— Andrew Watterson, chief operating officer, Southwest Airlines, LinkedIn, June 8, 2026
Southwest indicated it is actively pursuing additional partnerships with international airlines for both transpacific and transatlantic travel.
SOUTHWEST IN THE MIDDLE OF A BROADER TRANSFORMATION
The partnership announcement comes as Southwest is executing its most sweeping structural overhaul in the airline’s history. The carrier introduced assigned seating on Jan. 27, 2026, replacing the open-seating model it had operated since 1971. It began charging checked baggage fees on May 28, 2025, and added service to five new airports in 2026, including St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Anchorage, Alaska.
CEO Bob Jordan said in May that the airline’s international ambitions extend beyond interline agreements. Jordan has stated Southwest is eyeing potential long-haul international flights “within the next five years” and that it is “likely that we’ll delve into long-haul international” flying, envisioning the carrier eventually serving eight to 12 long-haul international destinations — “the vast majority of the places that our customers want to go.”
THE RIO SETTING
The announcement was made at the 82nd IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit, held June 6-8, 2026, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and hosted by LATAM Airlines Group. The event gathered approximately 1,500 aviation industry leaders, government officials, and media representatives to discuss sustainability, artificial intelligence, air cargo, passenger rights, and the future of global aviation.
The two airlines said additional enhancements to the partnership may be introduced over time.
Key Takeaways
- Southwest Airlines and Singapore Airlines announced an interline agreement on June 8, 2026, at the IATA AGM in Rio de Janeiro, opening more than 130 international destinations to Southwest passengers on a single ticket through LAX, SFO, and SEA.
- Combined itineraries are bookable through Singapore Airlines, travel agents, and travel websites; checked bags travel through to the final destination.
- The deal is Southwest’s eighth interline partnership and its fourth new international tie-up within the past year, joining ANA, China Airlines, Condor, EVA Air, Icelandair, Philippine Airlines, and Turkish Airlines.
- The agreement is a simple interline deal — no codeshare, and no loyalty program integration between Southwest Rapid Rewards and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
- Southwest CEO Bob Jordan has stated the carrier is eyeing long-haul international flights “within the next five years,” suggesting the interline push may be a precursor to direct overseas service.