Southwest Airlines is actively expanding its international footprint in 2026, though it remains focused on short-haul "near-international" destinations rather than transoceanic routes. Their summer 2026 schedule features significant growth into Mexico and the Caribbean, with new nonstop service from Las Vegas to Cancun, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta. They are also deepening their presence in the Caribbean with flights to Sint Maarten and increased frequencies to San Juan, Puerto Rico. In a major shift for 2026, Southwest has also begun leveraging its partnership with Icelandair, allowing passengers to book "seamless" connections to Europe through a codeshare-style arrangement, though Southwest’s own 737 fleet does not currently fly to the European mainland. This expansion comes alongside a total transformation of the "Southwest Experience," including the introduction of assigned seating and the eventual phase-out of the "two free bags" policy for certain fare classes, as the airline seeks to compete more directly with legacy carriers for international-bound travelers.