Southwest Airlines
Coverage of Southwest Airlines in the Nexus archive.
- New Boeing finally gets going, 15 years after debut
Boeing's 737-7 MAX, delayed for 15 years after its announcement and seven years after production began, received FAA certification following technical fixes linked to past 737-8 MAX crashes. The plane's limited appeal stems from its unique configuration, but it competes with Airbus and Embraer in the regional jet market. Allegiant Airlines committed to purchasing the model in 2022.
- Southwest clarifies extra-seat policy for 'plus-size' travel
Southwest Airlines reversed a controversial change to its plus-size seating policy after facing backlash from customers and travel experts. The company clarified its extra-seat policy for plus-size travelers.
- FAA certifies Boeing's new 737 Max 7 jetliner for flight after years of delays
The FAA certified Boeing's 737 Max 7 for commercial service after years of delays, requiring safety updates following past technical issues and regulatory scrutiny. Certification involved design changes, including flight-control software and cockpit alerts, with ongoing FAA oversight of Boeing's production. The aircraft will serve short- and medium-haul routes, with orders from carriers like Southwest Airlines.
- FAA certifies Boeing's new 737 Max 7 jetliner for flight after years of delays
The FAA certified Boeing's 737 Max 7 for commercial flight after nearly a decade of delays, following extensive testing and safety modifications. The certification comes amid heightened regulatory scrutiny and safety reviews linked to prior crashes involving the 737 Max 8 model.
- Southwest Airlines flight loses air pressure in nose gear tires while landing at Midway, airline says
Southwest Airlines Flight 1243 experienced a loss of air pressure in its nose gear tires during landing at Chicago's Midway International Airport on Monday. The flight, arriving from Fort Myers, Florida, was towed to the gate after the incident.
- Emergency response to Southwest Airlines flight at Midway airport
An emergency response was initiated at Midway airport following a Southwest Airlines flight incident. Chopper 7 was deployed to the scene on Monday morning.
- Southwest’s new earlier boarding time is live — see what it means for your travel day
Southwest Airlines has implemented a new earlier boarding time for passengers, requiring travelers to adjust their booking times accordingly.
- Loyalists may miss the old Southwest. Wall Street loves the new one.
Southwest Airlines is changing, with loyalists missing the old version while Wall Street approves of the new approach. A fund manager notes the airline is adapting to current times.
- Amazon is investing $1B in a hot new tech role. Here's what the job entails.
Amazon is investing $1 billion in AWS Forward Deployed Engineering to accelerate AI deployment by embedding engineers directly with clients. The role, which tailors AI systems to client workflows, has seen surging demand since 2025, with companies like the Allen Institute, Cox Automotive, and Southwest Airlines already adopting it.
- Woman arrested by ICE at DIA released from Aurora immigration detention
An Ecuadorian woman arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at Denver International Airport was released on a $3,000 bond. Her lawyer criticized ICE for failing to provide records justifying the arrest, which went viral after being filmed by a friend.
- Southwest flight attendant arrested at Nashville International Airport
A Southwest Airlines flight attendant was arrested at Nashville International Airport by the Department of Homeland Security.
- ICE detains Southwest flight attendant in Nashville as loved ones dispute claims
ICE detained Southwest Airlines flight attendant Lorenzo Thompson at Nashville International Airport, alleging he overstayed a 2021 visa. Supporters claim he sought asylum and had a valid work permit. The case highlights concerns about immigration detention rates and due process, with over 43,000 people booked into immigration detention last month.
- ICE detains Southwest flight attendant working at Nashville airport. Here’s what we know
A Dallas-based Southwest Airlines flight attendant, Lorenzo 'Enzo' Thompson, was detained by ICE at Nashville International Airport on July 14. He entered the U.S. legally in 2021 but overstayed his visa, and his asylum case was pending at the time of detention. His union, TWU Local 556, and colleagues have expressed support for him.
- Southwest flight attendant detained by ICE while working, union says
A Southwest Airlines flight attendant was detained by ICE while working, according to the flight attendants' union. The union is providing legal support, but the circumstances remain unclear.
- Southwest Airlines chartered a ship to haul jet fuel to California during spring supply crunch
Southwest Airlines chartered a ship to transport 12.6 million gallons of jet fuel from Houston to Los Angeles through the Panama Canal during a spring supply crunch. The move utilized a Jones Act waiver to facilitate the shipment.
- Southwest Airlines flight attendant Lorenzo Thompson arrested at work by ICE for allegedly overstaying visa since 2021
Lorenzo Thompson, a Southwest Airlines flight attendant, was arrested by ICE in Nashville for allegedly overstaying his visa since October 2021. The arrest occurred at his workplace and is related to immigration status violations.
- ICE detains Southwest Airlines flight attendant at work
ICE detained Southwest Airlines flight attendant Lorenzo Thompson, a Jamaican national, at Nashville International Airport on July 14. Supporters and labor organizations are rallying to raise awareness about the incident.
- Southwest Airlines put Texas jet fuel on a boat to LA for the first time amid supply worries
Southwest Airlines transported jet fuel from Houston to Los Angeles via boat for the first time to address potential supply shortages. The company hired a ship this spring to send fuel between the two cities as a precaution.
- Southwest Airlines posted record revenue and beat earnings estimates but its summer forecast fell short
Southwest Airlines reported record revenue and exceeded earnings estimates with an adjusted EPS of 94 cents, surpassing the 51-cent consensus. However, its third-quarter earnings outlook of 50–75 cents fell below the 82-cent analyst expectation.
- Emotions erupt at Denver airport after ICE detains woman accused of overstaying visa
Emotions erupted at Denver International Airport after a 27-year-old immigrant was detained by ICE agents while trying to board a Southwest Airlines flight.
- Southwest to launch nonstop flights from Austin to Costa Rica in March
Southwest Airlines plans to begin nonstop flights between Austin and San José, the capital of Costa Rica, in March. The service will start in March and connect Austin to the Costa Rican capital directly.
- Costa Rica Gains a Texas Route as Antigua Hosts Wedding Congress
Southwest Airlines will launch a weekly Austin–San José flight starting 13 March 2027 using a Boeing 737 MAX 8. The XVI LAT Wedding Congress will be held in Antigua Guatemala from 13–16 July 2026 at Hotel Museo Spa Casa Santo Domingo.
- Southwest announces 'biggest spring schedule yet' at BNA
Southwest Airlines is expanding its service from Nashville with four new nonstop destinations beginning in March 2027.
- Southwest announces four new nonstop flights from Nashville International Airport
Southwest Airlines will add four new nonstop flights from Nashville International Airport starting March 2027, including routes to Des Moines, Wichita, Aruba, and St. Thomas. The airline also announced increased daily service to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, calling it their largest spring schedule yet.
- Southwest flight declares emergency after distress call over Pacific
A Southwest Airlines flight from Maui to Las Vegas declared an emergency and diverted due to a distress call over the Pacific Ocean. The incident occurred on Sunday, July 5, 2026.
- Delta flight ‘felt a big bang’ after apparently being hit by firework while landing in Chicago
A Delta Air Lines flight was struck by fireworks while landing at Chicago Midway International Airport, with the pilot reporting a 'big bang' and the Federal Aviation Administration investigating. No injuries were reported, and the aircraft landed safely. Air traffic controllers warned incoming flights of similar incidents, describing the airspace as a 'war zone.'
- Southwest Airlines leaves passengers scrambling after cutting routes in peak travel season
Southwest Airlines has removed several flight routes during the busy travel season, leading to passenger confusion and difficulties in rebooking. The airline's decision to cut these routes has disrupted travel plans for many.
- Southwest jet struck by ground equipment vehicle at Memphis airport
A Southwest Airlines plane was struck by a ground equipment vehicle at Memphis airport while passengers were boarding on Sunday.
- Southwest jet struck by ground equipment vehicle at Memphis airport
A Southwest Airlines jet was struck by a ground equipment vehicle during boarding at Memphis International Airport, causing the flight to be taken out of service. Passengers were rebooked on an alternate aircraft, leading to a nearly four-hour delay. The incident is under investigation by Southwest's Safety Management System.
- Southwest Airlines is partnering with Amazon Web Services to go fully cloud-based by 2028
Southwest Airlines is collaborating with Amazon Web Services to transition to a fully cloud-based system by 2028, moving from on-premises infrastructure to an AI-enabled architecture using agentic tools across operations and software development.
- Southwest Airlines probing ‘incident’ between two of its planes at Rhode Island airport
Southwest Airlines confirmed it is investigating an incident involving two of its planes at Rhode Island’s largest airport. The airline has not provided further details about the nature of the incident.
- Sanctions for Southwest Airlines reversed
A court has reversed sanctions imposed on Southwest Airlines. The ruling references a prior decision by the Fifth Circuit in a related lawsuit from last year.
- Airline CEO who counted cards now bets premium perks can win over fliers
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is leveraging premium upgrades and enhanced customer experiences to attract fliers, building on his gambling background. United's 'United Next' strategy includes new aircraft, premium seating, and improved amenities, while Delta and American Airlines are highlighted for their industry-leading perks and awards.
- Southwest walks back part of its plus-size seating policy, but advocacy group says it's not enough
Southwest Airlines is rethinking its plus-size seating policy by walking back a key part of the guidelines. An advocacy group claims the changes are insufficient.
- Southwest walks back part of its plus-size seating policy, but advocacy group says it’s not enough
Southwest Airlines is revising its plus-size seating policy by retracting a key component months after implementation. An advocacy group claims the changes are insufficient to address concerns.
- Southwest Airlines forced to alter its plus-size passenger policy again after earlier change sparked backlash from overweight flyers
Southwest Airlines revised its plus-size passenger policy again after facing backlash from overweight flyers. The earlier policy change had drawn criticism, prompting the airline to make further adjustments.
- Southwest revises its overweight passenger rules. Here's what's changing.
Southwest Airlines is revising its policies for passengers who require a second seat, reversing some recent changes. The airline has adjusted its rules related to overweight passengers needing an additional seat.
- Southwest walks back controversial seating policy that singles out plus-size passengers
Southwest Airlines has reversed its controversial seating policy that required plus-size passengers to purchase two seats. The airline now allows passengers to sit in a single seat if they can fit within the space, providing more comfort for larger individuals.
- American Airlines is getting Starlink Wi-Fi
American Airlines announced plans to install SpaceX's Starlink Wi-Fi on over 500 aircraft starting in Q1 2027, joining providers like Viastat and SES. Other major airlines, including United, Southwest, and Lufthansa, have also adopted Starlink for in-flight connectivity.
- Moment billionaire Tom Steyer flies Southwest — and the surprising reaction he got from passengers
Billionaire Tom Steyer, who is running for California governor while promoting an everyman image, was spotted by passengers boarding a Southwest Airlines flight. Despite spending $192 million on his campaign, the encounter suggests he may not have achieved the breakthrough he expected among voters.