Southwest Airlines® celebrated an exciting milestone on March 5 as the carrier launched new service to Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS).
For the inaugural intra-site flight from Nashville to Knoxville, Tennessee One received a water canon salute upon arrival. Customers and Employees cheered at the gate and were treated to University of Tennessee orange-and-white décor and local treats inspired by the Smoky Mountains.
“For many years, Knoxville has been near the top of Southwest’s wish list because of its vibrant community and strong demand for leisure and business travel,” said Adam Decaire, Senior Vice President for Network Planning and Network Operations Control at Southwest Airlines. “Knoxville has a passion for our Legendary Hospitality and Southwest Heart, and we’re thrilled to connect to East Tennessee as our third city in the state.”
Southwest now operates twice-daily roundtrips to Nashville (BNA); once-daily service between Knoxville and Baltimore-Washington (BWI), Dallas Love Field (DAL), and Orlando (MCO); as well as weekend service beginning in spring 2026 to Denver (DEN), Austin (AUS), and Tampa (TPA).
With TYS joining Southwest’s network, the airline serves 119 airports across two U.S. territories, 42 states, and 11 countries. Knoxville becomes the newest addition to Southwest’s growing list of destinations, connecting East Tennessee to Southwest’s vast network.
On January 27, 2026, Southwest introduced assigned and premium seating, including Extra Legroom options. The fleet also features free WiFi for Rapid Rewards® Members, thanks to T‑Mobile.
