Southwest Heading North: Airline Adds Seasonal ANC Routes
Photo Credit: Alaska Business
The nation’s fourth largest airline is adding Alaska connections. Southwest Airlines is scheduling seasonal service to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) starting in May 2026.
“We’re adding destinations that once seemed inconceivable for Southwest in order to build a route network that creates new experiences and more possibilities than ever before,” says Southwest COO Andrew Watterson.
Flying Southeast on Southwest
Southwest operates from a main hub at Dallas Love Field, but the routes to and from ANC will connect to Denver and Las Vegas. Flights will become available for purchase this month as part of Southwest’s next schedule extension.
The company notes that Anchorage marks the fifth new destination Southwest has announced in 2025. The carrier will service 122 airports with the addition of ANC next year. Alaska becomes the forty-third state in the Southwest network
“This service will provide more affordable, reliable connections for Alaskans and help share our great state with more visitors than ever before,” says Ryan Anderson, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, which operates ANC.
Among the “big four” US domestic carriers, United Airlines offers year-round service between Anchorage and Denver, plus expanded seasonal connections. Delta Air Lines also flies year-round routes from ANC, expanded seasonally, while American Airlines only serves ANC during the summer. Flights to Las Vegas from ANC are part of Alaska Airlines’ year-round service.
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January 2026
“This will be a big economic boost for Anchorage and all of southcentral Alaska,” says Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance. “We are excited to share our rich cultural heritage, magnificent landscapes, and diverse community with a larger group of travelers.”
Southwest’s entry into the Alaska market builds on growth strategies ANC has pursued in both passenger and cargo service. In recent years, ANC has seen record-setting volumes and rising demand, making it one of the busiest cargo airports in the world and a critical hub for Alaska’s economy.
Anderson says, “Bringing Southwest to ANC reflects the success of our long-term strategies to expand service. It enhances opportunities for Alaskans, strengthens global connectivity, supports tourism and business, and drives lasting economic growth for the state.”
Southwest has set itself apart in the airline market by offering only economy class seating, no business class or first-class cabins. Its unique boarding policy, eschewing assigned seats, is scheduled to end in January 2026, and it announced last May that it would end its allowance for two free checked bags.
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