Southwest Airlines has applied for a new public convenience and necessity certificate aimed at expanding its international network.
The application pertains to nations under the US’s open skies agreement, providing access to 138 countries and territories.
Currently, Southwest Airlines primarily operates domestically, with only 2.2pc of its total weekly capacity used for international destinations.
The airline’s existing international operations include destinations across ten countries and territories in Central America and the Caribbean.
A spokesperson shared that this move enhances their existing international franchise while utilising streamlined regulatory processes offered by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
The airline shared: “We’ve been an international carrier for a decade plus – this helps with our existing international franchise – and we’re taking advantage of the DOT’s streamlined regulatory procedures for international authority.”
