Southwest Airlines (WN, Dallas Love Field) will close two satellite cabin crew bases at Austin-Bergstrom International and Fort Lauderdale International on July 1, 2025, as part of the company’s ongoing business consolidation.
These bases, which were opened in a test phase in 2018, are much smaller than Southwest’s 12 primary bases, and no pilots are based in either of the two cities. About 280 flight attendants are based in Austin and Fort Lauderdale, and they will be relocated to one of the airline’s main bases.
In a statement to ch-aviation, the carrier said it is consolidating to “further maximise our operational efficiency and reliability. This change will ultimately help strengthen our crew network and support a more reliable operation for our employees and customers.”
Earlier this year, Southwest announced a workforce reduction of 1,750 employees, mostly in management and leadership positions. The move is expected to save it about USD210 million this year.
The airline is currently undertaking a transformation plan after a shaky 2024 in which the management reached a cooperation agreement with activist investor Elliott Investment Management. Other changes include launching “red-eye” flights, selling and leasing back part of its B737-800 fleet, and offering voluntary redundancies.
