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Southwest Airlines is one of the biggest names in U.S. air travel—built on a low-cost model, a huge domestic footprint, and an all-Boeing 737 fleet. But the airline has also been evolving fast: new fare structures, new revenue initiatives, and a major change to the onboard experience with assigned seating.
Below is an updated, 2026-ready roundup of Southwest Airlines statistics and facts, including an answer box, a key metrics table, a trend snapshot, and FAQs. Older stats are included only when clearly labeled by year.
Southwest Airlines (Quick Facts)
Southwest Airlines is a major U.S. carrier headquartered in Dallas, Texas. In 2025, Southwest reported $28.063B in total operating revenues and $441M in net income. The airline ended 2025 with an all-737 fleet of 803 aircraft and served 117 destinations. Southwest also made two headline shifts: it began charging for checked bags for most customers (effective May 28, 2025), and it began selling assigned seating for flights operating January 27, 2026 and beyond.
Key Metrics Table: Southwest by the Numbers
| Metric | Stat | Year / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total operating revenues | $28.063B | 2025 |
| Net income | $441M | 2025 |
| Fleet size (end of year) | 803 aircraft | As of Dec. 31, 2025 |
| Destinations served | 117 | As of Dec. 31, 2025 |
| Enplaned passengers | 168.334M | 2025 |
| Trips flown | 1,415,822 | 2025 |
| Average passenger fare | $190.41 | 2025 (company operating data) |
| Active full-time equivalent employees | 72,790 | As of Dec. 31, 2025 |
Southwest Airlines Facts (Updated)
- Headquarters: Dallas, Texas
- Business model: point-to-point route network and an all-Boeing 737 fleet
- Network footprint (end of 2025): 117 destinations across 42 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and 10 near-international countries (including Mexico and select Caribbean/Central America markets)
Southwest Operating Scale (2025)
Southwest’s 2025 operating data shows the airline’s scale in plain numbers:
- Enplaned passengers: 168.334 million
- Revenue passengers carried: 134.110 million
- Trips flown: 1,415,822
- Load factor: 77.4%
- Average passenger fare: $190.41
- Fleet (end of year): 803 aircraft
Southwest Financial Snapshot (Year-Labeled)
| Year | Total Operating Revenues | Operating Income | Net Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $28.063B | $428M | $441M |
| 2024 | $27.483B | $321M | $465M |
| 2023 | $26.091B | $224M | $465M |
Major Policy Changes: Bags + Seats
1) Checked bag fees (effective May 28, 2025)
Southwest began charging most customers for checked bags beginning May 28, 2025. The standard published pricing is $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second checked bag (with exemptions and benefits for some fare products and loyalty/credit-card segments).
2) Assigned seating (travel starting Jan 27, 2026)
Southwest started transitioning away from open seating by selling assigned and extra legroom seating for travel starting January 27, 2026 (seat selections went on sale starting July 29, 2025). This marks one of the biggest customer-experience changes in the airline’s modern history.
FAQ: Southwest Airlines Stats
How many passengers fly Southwest each year?
In 2025, Southwest reported 168.334 million enplaned passengers (a commonly used airline operating metric).
How big is Southwest’s fleet?
Southwest reported 803 aircraft at the end of 2025, all Boeing 737 variants.
How many destinations does Southwest serve?
As of Dec. 31, 2025, Southwest reported serving 117 destinations across the U.S. and near-international markets.
Does Southwest still have free checked bags?
Southwest introduced checked bag fees for most customers effective May 28, 2025. Some customers and fare products retain bag benefits based on eligibility.
Is Southwest switching to assigned seating?
Yes. Assigned seating began rolling out for flights operating January 27, 2026 and beyond, with seat selections going on sale in late July 2025.
That’s all for now. We’ll keep updating this page as Southwest publishes new annual operating data (passengers, fleet, revenues) and as the assigned seating rollout matures.
