October 9, 2026 — Southwest Airlines is leaning toward the Boeing 787 as its first widebody jet for long-haul international flights, Reuters reported on Thursday. No decision has been made, and Southwest says it has no fleet news to announce.
What happened
Reuters cited three people familiar with Southwest’s fleet planning. One said the airline has looked at a fleet of dozens of 787s. The final call belongs to the board, which set up a fleet oversight committee last year.
Southwest flies only Boeing 737s today. Airbus has pitched the A321XLR and A330neo for long-haul flying and the A220 for other parts of the network, but the sources said the 787 is in the stronger position.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Aircraft favoured | Boeing 787; variant not known |
| Fleet size discussed | Dozens of aircraft, per one source |
| Timetable | About three years; launch date TBA |
| How it could get aircraft sooner | Leasing or buying used 787s |
| Decision | Not made; board approval needed |
Boeing says new 787s are sold out through the end of the decade, which is why leased or second-hand aircraft are being considered. Chief executive Bob Jordan said in May that 8 to 12 long-haul destinations could cover most of where Southwest customers want to go.
A new aircraft type would probably mean talks with the pilots’ union over pay and work rules, plus new training and maintenance programmes. Union president Jody Reven has said the company has discussed both a large aircraft and a long-range narrowbody.
Southwest’s only comment to Reuters: “We do not have any news forthcoming related to our fleet plans.”
Hurricane Isaias. Separately, Southwest has a travel advisory for Destin/Fort Walton Beach, New Orleans, Panama City Beach and Pensacola for October 8–11, and for Birmingham for October 9–11. Customers can rebook or fly standby within 14 days of their original date with no change in fare.
What it means for non-revs
- Nothing changes for pass travel today. This is a report about a plan, with a roughly three-year horizon.
- If it happens, Southwest employees would get their own long-haul network. Today, international non-rev travel beyond the 737’s range depends on other airlines’ agreements.
- Pilots and flight attendants should watch for contract talks. Widebody pay rates and long-haul work rules would have to be negotiated before any launch.
- Gulf Coast this weekend: Southwest is letting revenue customers stand by free for 14 days on the five advisory airports. They board ahead of non-revs, so expect long standby lists at those airports.
Sources
- Reuters via SRN News, Exclusive-Southwest Airlines weighs Boeing 787 for long-haul international push, sources say
- AirlineGeeks, Report: Southwest Eyes 787s in Long-Haul Shift
- Southwest Airlines, Travel Advisories & Alerts
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