Southwest Airways will launch its first worldwide airline partnership subsequent month, and increase its quick checklist of worldwide “gateways” to Denver and Nashville, the airline introduced.
Baltimore had already been introduced as its first such gateway, which set the stage for Southwest to formally ink an interline settlement with Icelandair at a ceremony in close by Washington on Wednesday.
TPG was available as executives signed a pact cementing the tie-up between the 2 carriers, one that may finally enable Southwest loyalists to redeem Speedy Rewards factors on flights to Iceland, Europe and past.
The ceremony, held contained in the residence of Iceland’s ambassador to the U.S., marked what Southwest is framing as the primary tangible step in a sequence of huge adjustments the Dallas-based provider outlined final yr. That transformation will finally deliver the primary assigned and further legroom seats to Southwest’s Boeing 737s.
Up first, although, is that this joining-of-forces with Icelandair.
“Interline partnerships are quite common within the airline trade. But it surely’s our first one, so it is very thrilling for us,” Southwest chief working officer Andrew Watterson mentioned moments earlier than the 2 carriers made their partnership official.
A softer launch to the partnership
As TPG reported in September, the Southwest-Icelandair tie-up might be extra restricted at first.
Beginning in February, vacationers will have the ability to e-book itineraries that includes seamless connections between the 2 carriers by way of Icelandair’s web site.
From the outset, the partnership will think about only one gateway on the U.S. aspect: Southwest’s Baltimore/Washington Worldwide Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) base.
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Nonetheless, the carriers plan to quickly increase the setup to Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN) and Nashville Worldwide Airport (BNA), Southwest executives revealed Wednesday.
“We’ll proceed to do that in phases,” Ryan Inexperienced, Southwest’s government charged with overseeing the airline’s wholesale adjustments introduced final yr, instructed TPG Wednesday.
Deeper ties start subsequent yr
Count on the 2 airways’ ties to develop in 2026, after Southwest launches assigned seats; the logistics of evolving its tech methods to facilitate a partnership in its open seating period — and once more after shifting to assigned seats — did not make sense, Inexperienced mentioned.
As soon as assigned seating is dwell, although, Southwest plans to start promoting Icelandair seats by means of its reserving channels. At that time, prospects would have the ability to e-book flights to Keflavik Airport (KEF) and prime European locations by means of Southwest’s web site.
“We’ll add elements … like earn and [redeem] with Speedy Rewards, and loyalty,” Inexperienced added. “And we’ll simply type of proceed to layer on.”
Pomp and circumstance
The ceremonial launch of this partnership in D.C. was filled with pomp and circumstance.
Southwest and Icelandair leaders exchanged items. The Reykjavik-based provider supplied up a chunk of molten rock from a freshly-formed lava area in Iceland. Southwest got here with an ornamental model of its signature emblem.
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Then, leaders from each carriers raised glasses for a toast (“Skál!”) of Brennivin, Iceland’s nationwide drink.
“This might be a beautiful partnership,” Svanhildur Hólm Valsdóttir, Iceland’s ambassador to the U.S., mentioned in the course of the festivities.
Southwest vies for international attain
Southwest plans to announce at the very least one extra worldwide airline companion in 2025, executives reiterated Wednesday. Past that, the provider hopes a rising checklist of companions will give Speedy Rewards members extra locations to select from.
“We’re having conversations with each extra transatlantic carriers in addition to transpacific carriers,” Inexperienced acknowledged. “Finally, that is about giving prospects selections, to increase the attain and breadth of the Southwest Airways model past the attain of the
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