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Southwest announces 2 new international ‘gateways’ ahead of Icelandair partnership

Southwest Airways will launch its first worldwide airline partnership subsequent month, and broaden its quick record 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 Rapid Rewards factors on flights to Iceland, Europe and past.

SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

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 series of massive changes the Dallas-based service outlined final 12 months. That transformation will finally convey the primary assigned and extra legroom seats to Southwest’s Boeing 737s.

Up first, although, is that this joining-of-forces with Icelandair.

SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

“Interline partnerships are quite common within the airline trade. But it surely’s our first one, so it’s extremely thrilling for us,” Southwest chief working officer Andrew Watterson stated 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 be capable of guide itineraries that includes seamless connections between the 2 carriers through Icelandair’s web site.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

From the outset, the partnership will consider only one gateway on the U.S. aspect: Southwest’s Baltimore/Washington Worldwide Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) base.

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A Southwest Airways jet at Baltimore/Washington Worldwide Thurgood Marshall Airport. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

Nonetheless, the carriers plan to quickly broaden 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 modifications introduced final 12 months, informed TPG Wednesday.

Deeper ties start subsequent 12 months

Anticipate the 2 airways’ ties to develop in 2026, after Southwest launches assigned seats; the logistics of evolving its tech programs to facilitate a partnership in its open seating period — and once more after shifting to assigned seats — did not make sense, Inexperienced stated.

The cabin of a Southwest Airways Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

As soon as assigned seating is stay, although, Southwest plans to start promoting Icelandair seats via its reserving channels. At that time, clients would be capable of guide flights to Keflavik Airport (KEF) and prime European locations via Southwest’s web site.

“We’ll add parts … 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 service provided up a chunk of molten rock from a freshly-formed lava subject in Iceland. Southwest got here with an ornamental model of its signature emblem.

Then, leaders from each carriers raised glasses for a toast (“Skál!”) of Brennivin, Iceland’s nationwide drink.

SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

“This might be an exquisite partnership,” Svanhildur Hólm Valsdóttir, Iceland’s ambassador to the U.S., stated throughout the festivities.

SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

Southwest vies for world attain

Southwest plans to announce no less than one further worldwide airline companion in 2025, executives reiterated Wednesday. Past that, the service hopes a rising record of companions will give Speedy Rewards members extra locations to choose from.

“We’re having conversations with each further transatlantic carriers in addition to transpacific carriers,” Inexperienced acknowledged. “Finally, that is about giving clients selections, to broaden the attain and breadth of the Southwest Airways model past the attain of the 737.”

Southwest Airways jets at Harry Reid Worldwide Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

In fact, not too way back, none of this might have been potential.

Lately, the airline has poured money into modernizing its notoriously outdated technical infrastructure — investments meant to do all the pieces from stopping one other vacation 2022-esque meltdown to paving the best way for modifications like Southwest’s first redeye flights next month. To not point out, after all, permitting for Southwest to kick off its most world foray but — a as soon as hard-to-imagine tie-up with a global companion.

“It is a new functionality we now have. And that is what transformation is all about,” Watterson stated. “After which we’ll make use of this as a traditional course of enterprise, we’ll add extra gateways. A second companion. Third companion.”

Keep tuned …

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