Southwest Airlines to Launch First Airport Lounge Network

Construction is currently underway at Austin-Bergstrom, Baltimore/Washington International, Daniel K. Inouye International in Honolulu, and Nashville International. The airline expects to welcome its first guests to these facilities by late 2027. Tony Roach, Southwest’s executive vice president and chief customer officer, described the move as a strategic extension of the company’s hospitality brand and its three-decade relationship with Chase.

To facilitate entry into these premium spaces, the airline will introduce a new premium Rapid Rewards credit card in 2027. While the current design philosophy emphasizes a blend of Southwest’s signature friendliness with the sophisticated amenities found in the existing Chase Sapphire Reserve lounge portfolio, the company remains focused on scaling this footprint over the coming years. This shift marks a significant evolution for the carrier, which has operated since 1971 as a low-cost, high-volume operator now serving over 134 million passengers annually.