Southwest Airlines has filed with the U.S. Transportation Department for authority to fly to any country with which the U.S. has an Open Skies aviation agreement, signaling the carrier intends to expand its small international route network.
Approval of the request could allow Southwest to fly to countries in Europe, the U.K., much of Latin America and parts of Asia and Africa. The Dallas-based airline also sought the ability to transport “persons, property and mail” to countries that enter aviation agreements with the US in the future, according to the document.
Southwest currently flies to some locations in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. A Southwest spokesperson said that while the airline has flown internationally for more than a decade, it was “taking advantage of the DOT’s streamlined regulatory procedures” to pursue expansion.
The expansion of flying outside of the U.S. would add to a multitude of changes at Southwest, which has overhauled its business model and revamped leadership in the wake of a pressure campaign by Elliott Investment Management. The carrier has begun charging for checked bags and has plans for assigned seating and a class section, all stark reversals from policies it had held for more than four decades.
Southwest currently flies to cities in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. The carrier last year outlined plans to enter into alliances with airlines from other countries, and in February began a partnership with Icelandair Group that allows booking on connecting flights through Icelandair channels.
Southwest said its own growth into international markets will be on hold until it meets specified financial performance metrics. But it said in Tuesday’s filing that it “has repeatedly been found fit, willing and able to provide interstate and foreign air transportation.”
The airline’s Boeing Co. 737 Max 8 aircraft has a range of more than 4,000 miles.
- Mary Schlangenstein for Bloomberg