Southwest Airlines Announces New California Routes and Cuts Amid Network Shakeup

Notably, Southwest will discontinue its Burbank to New Orleans and Burbank to San Antonio routesPhoto byForsaken FilmsonUnsplash

Southwest Airlines is making significant changes to its network, with new routes and cuts impacting California travelers. As part of its latest schedule update, the Dallas-based carrier will launch weekend service from Sacramento to Tucson beginning March 6, 2025, the carrier states. Additionally, Southwest is adding more red-eye flights, including a new overnight route from Sacramento to Baltimore, also starting on March 6, 2025.

However, the shakeup comes with some permanent route cuts. Notably, Southwest will discontinue its Burbank to New Orleans and Burbank to San Antonio routes, both of which were recently introduced in June 2024. The Long Beach to Kansas City route, which launched in March 2023, will also be cut, the airline announced.

These changes reflect Southwest's strategic adjustments as it faces increased scrutiny from investors due to recent financial challenges, industry observers noted. The airline is focusing on expanding in markets with high growth potential while pulling back from underperforming or highly competitive routes, those observers stated.