Where are the Southwest Airlines Hubs? (2024)

Southwest Airlines belongs to one of the major airlines in the United States and is also known as the world’s largest low-cost carrier. The airline is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. 

Southwest operates flights to 120+ domestic and international destinations with 700+ Boeing 737 jets.

Where are the Southwest Airlines Hubs? Does Southwest have hubs?

Talking about the hubs, Southwest doesn’t have hubs or doesn’t call its bases ‘hubs’. Southwest flights are primarily operated from bases in Atlanta (ATL), Baltimore (BWI), Chicago-Midway (MDW), Dallas-Love (DAL), Denver (DEN), Houston-Hobby (HOU), Las Vegas (LAX), Los Angeles (LAX), Oakland (OAK), Orlando (MCO) and Phoenix-Sky Harbor (PHX).

These airports are identified as major connecting airports for Southwest Airlines flights. Let’s explore some key airports for Southwest.

What are the main hubs for Southwest?

As discussed above, Southwest Airlines features key operating, and connecting airports but doesn’t identify them as the hub airports. A total of 11 airports are the key operating bases for Southwest flights.

Among 11 key airports, we will explore 8 of them with terminal information.

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

There are six concourses (A, B, C, D, E, and T) located in the Domestic Terminal, each providing a variety of shops, restaurants, and services for travelers. Concourse T is connected to the Domestic Terminal via a pedestrian walkway, making it easy for travelers to move between the two areas.

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, also known as Atlanta Airport (ATL), is a big center for flights within the US and around the world. It’s in Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, and it’s one of the busiest airports globally. Delta Air Lines mainly uses it for lots of their flights. And Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines also fly from there quite a bit.

Southwest Airlines operates from Domestic Terminal North at ATL Airport, and uses Concourse C for arrivals, and departures.

Explore Southwest Airlines Terminal in Atlanta Airport with a travel guide.

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)

Baltimore Airport (BWI) stands as Maryland’s lone major commercial airport, catering to Baltimore, the Washington Metropolitan Area, and South Central Pennsylvania travelers.

BWI serves as a primary focus city for Southwest Airlines.

The airport spans 3,160 acres (1,279 ha) in total area and boasts three asphalt runways: Rwy 10/28, Rwy 15R/33L, and Rwy 15L/33R.

Southwest Airlines operates from Concourse A, Concourse B, Concourse C, and Concourse E at BWI Airport.

Explore Southwest Airlines Terminal in BWI Airport with a detailed travel guide.

Dallas Love Field (DAL)

Southwest Airlines has its headquarters in Dallas so, it has a long relationship with Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL). We can assume DAL Airport is the primary hub however, Southwest doesn’t want to identify its key airports as hubs.

Dallas Love Field is an airport owned by the City of Dallas that serves the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. It is the major operating base of Southwest Airlines with the airline holding a 95.3% market share as per the latest statistics.

Talking about the airport infrastructure, DAL features a single passenger terminal with 20 gates numbered from 1 to 20. Southwest Airlines operate from 18 gates leaving 2 gates (11, and 13) for Alaska Airlines.

Southwest offers curbside check-in, and ticket counter services at DAL. The ticket counters are opened 120 minutes prior to the first departure flight. Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to the scheduled departure.

Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)

Chicago Midway Int’l Airport (MDW) functions as a key commercial airport for the Chicago Metropolitan Area. It holds special significance as the main hub for Southwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines, with Southwest alone dominating over 92% of the market share at MDW Airport.

The airport boasts a configuration of five runways made of asphalt and concrete, complemented by a terminal structure that houses three distinct Concourses: A, B, and C.

Southwest Airlines manages operations from both Concourses A and B at Midway Airport, effectively managing all incoming and outgoing flights from these specific concourses.

Looking for a detailed travel guide on Southwest Terminal at MDW Airport? Visit this blog!

Denver International Airport (DEN)

Situated in the western part of the United States, Denver International Airport (DEN), also recognized as DIA, holds a prominent spot as one of United Airlines’ primary hubs, functioning as a gateway for international travel. The airport is also a major operating base for Southwest Airlines.

Within the United States, DEN Airport secures the third spot in terms of busyness, catering to over 50 million passengers on an annual basis. In the year 2021, the airport extended its hospitality to nearly 60 million passengers, and forecasts suggest that this number will soar beyond 70 million by the conclusion of 2022.

DEN has a single terminal named the Jeppesen Terminal, which comprises three concourses: Concourse A, Concourse B, and Concourse C. Southwest Airlines operates from Terminal East (Concourse C) at Denver International Airport (DEN). The airline offers various amenities, and services to the arriving, and departing passengers at the airport’s terminal.  

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is among the important airports serving Greater Los Angeles and its surrounding metropolitan area. It is the primary hub for Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Polar Air Cargo. Besides, it is also the focus city for Allegiant Air, JetBlue Airways, and Southwest Airlines.

The airport is equipped with 9 passenger terminals (Terminals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and B) with a total of 146 gates arranged in the shape of the letter ‘U’ or a horseshoe. Terminal B is known as the Tom Bradley International Terminal from where international flights are handled.

At present, Southwest Airlines operates from Terminal 1 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Domestic Flights and international check-in services are offered at Terminal 1 whereas passengers will be bused to Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) or Terminal B for international departures and arrivals.

Visit our blog ‘Southwest Terminal at LAX‘ to explore detailed terminal information including terminal map, arrivals/departures, amenities, parking facility, and much more.

Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX)

Phoenix–Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is an international airport serving the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is the primary hub for American Airlines and a focus airport for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

Sky Harbor Airport holds two passenger terminals (Terminal 3 and Terminal 4) with a total of 106 active gates. You must be wondering about Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Well, Terminal 1 got resigned from PHX and the airport authority didn’t want to renumber whereas Terminal 2 was closed as it operated for the last moment on February 4, 2020.

Southwest Airlines uses Terminal 4 at Phoenix–Sky Harbor for all flight operations. Fly By Check-in, Fly By Security and Self-Tagging are the services available for Southwest Airlines passengers at PHX Terminal 4. Facilities available at the Southwest Terminal include Power Station, Skycap, and Airport Wi-Fi.

You can read the article ‘Southwest Terminal at Phoenix’ to explore the full terminal guide.

New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is one of the major airports serving the New York Metropolitan area. It is the primary hub for American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Besides, it is also a focus city for Southwest Airlines.

The airport infrastructure holds four terminals: Terminal A, Terminal B, Terminal C, and Terminal D. A total of 72 gates are accommodated in these terminals. 

Southwest Airlines operates from Terminal B at LaGuardia airport. The facilities offered by the airline at LGA Terminal B are Power Station, Skycap, and Airport Wi-Fi.

Looking for a detailed guide on Southwest Terminal at LaGuardia? We got you covered with our blog ‘Southwest Terminal at LGA‘.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is among the main international airports in California that serve the San Francisco Bay Area. It is situated at an elevation of 13 ft (4 m) above mean sea level (AMSL) and is the primary hub for United Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

SFO covers a total land area of 5,207 acres and is equipped with four runways that are arranged in two intersecting sets of parallel runways.

San Francisco Airport features four terminals which are Harvey Milk Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and the International Terminal. These terminals accommodate seven concourses categorized from A to G.

Southwest Airlines operates from the Harvey Milk Terminal 1B which is equipped with San Francisco–based restaurants, hundreds of power outlets, high ceilings, natural daylight, amazing artwork, and much more.

Read all important information on Southwest Terminal at SFO Airport by clicking this link.

Conclusion on ‘Where are the Southwest Airlines hubs?’

Southwest Airlines is the world’s largest budget carrier that operates flights to 120+ destinations worldwide with 700+ Boeing 737 jets. Southwest doesn’t feature hubs or doesn’t want its operating bases to be identified as hubs.

That means Southwest operates from key airports in Atlanta (ATL), Baltimore (BWI), Chicago-Midway (MDW), Dallas-Love (DAL), Denver (DEN), Houston-Hobby (HOU), Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX), Oakland (OAK), Orlando (MCO) and Phoenix-Sky Harbor (PHX).

FAQs on Southwest Airlines Hubs