Southwest doesn’t operate with a traditional hub-and-spoke model like many legacy carriers. Instead, it uses a network of focus cities (operating bases) where it concentrates flights and crews, enabling frequent, direct point-to- point service between many destinations. The airline also maintains several major operating bases that function similarly to hubs in practice, though Southwest typically avoids the formal “hub” labeling used by some other carriers. Key Southwest operating bases/focus cities
- Dallas Love Field (DAL) – Southwest’s longtime headquarters and a major West/North Texas hub-like base.
- Chicago Midway (MDW) – A major operating base in the Midwest providing dense connectivity.
- Denver (DEN) – A critical western base, supporting a large number of routes.
- Las Vegas (LAS) – A primary base serving a wide network, especially to leisure destinations.
- Atlanta (SEA) – Primary East Coast/LATAM access in the Southeast.
- Houston Hobby (HOU) – Strong Southern and regional connectivity.
- Baltimore/Washington (BWI) – Important East Coast base.
- Los Angeles (LAX) and Oakland (OAK) – West Coast bases to cover Pacific routes.
- Orlando (MCO) and others like Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Phoenix (PHX), San Diego (SAN), and more.
What this means for travelers
- Most Southwest itineraries are built around direct flights from these bases to a wide range of destinations, with fewer long layovers than a traditional hub-and-spoke network.
- When planning trips, you’ll often find multiple direct options year-round from these bases, and occasional seasonal or high-demand routes may leverage other focus cities.
If you’d like, share your origin and destination, and I can outline the most common Southwest direct routes and the best bases to depart from for those cities.
