Hundreds of Southwest Airlines flights axed from July through September.
Vacation planners facing sticker shock will have one more obstacle this summer: fewer Southwest options. The carrier confirmed it will scrub 247 flights across its July‑to‑September schedule, trimming capacity particularly at St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
Southwest’s latest cutback follows a $149 million first‑quarter loss and a bruising year of inflation and soft demand. Travelers who depend on the airline’s free‑bag, no‑change‑fee formula may need a new game plan—especially if they were banking on a nonstop to the West Coast.
Southwest slashes St. Louis departures and throttles key West Coast routes in bid to stem losses
According to data firm Cirium, Lambert will see seat capacity slip 0.5 percent compared with last summer. That sounds tiny, yet the pain is uneven:
- San Jose: Just five flights remain, versus 92 a year ago.
- San Diego: Down 41 percent to 109 flights.
- Portland, Oregon: Nearly half of last year’s service disappears, leaving only 26 departures.
Who will feel the squeeze first? Business travelers chasing tech hubs and families angling for beach vacations are squarely in the crosshairs.
What these flight cancellations mean for fares, connections, and your holiday budget this peak travel season
Fewer nonstop seats often translate to higher prices and longer layovers. In fact, some St. Louis‑to‑California itineraries already require a detour through Denver or Las Vegas. Are you ready to budget extra time—and cash?
| Route | Summer ’24 flights | Summer ’25 flights | % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| STL ➜ SJC | 92 | 5 | ‑94 % |
| STL ➜ SAN | 184 | 109 | ‑41 % |
| STL ➜ PDX | 51 | 26 | ‑49 % |
Still hoping to score a Companion Pass trip? Better act fast. Southwest has not reaffirmed its full‑year 2025 guidance, and rival airlines are also retrenching.
Travelers can soften the blow by booking early, watching alternate airports, and stacking loyalty perks before they vanish
Consequently, experts suggest locking in tickets at least six weeks ahead, setting fare alerts for nearby Kansas City or Chicago, and leveraging Rapid Rewards points before more cuts arrive. Nevertheless, flexibility will be your best friend if additional schedule tweaks pop up.
Southwest’s summertime retreat is modest in percentage terms but significant for key Midwestern flyers. Listen up: check existing reservations, compare connection times, and consider travel insurance if your plans are carved in stone.