Nashville Airport Unveils 2026 Flight Expansions Across Carriers

Nashville International Airport (BNA) is adding new nonstop flights in 2026, led by Southwest Airlines and Avelo Airlines. If you live in Nashville, Tennessee, these routes can change how you plan international trips, visa stamping travel, and quick domestic connections.

For immigration purposes, the biggest difference is simple: Southwest’s 2026 BNA additions include two international routes, while Avelo’s confirmed 2026 addition from BNA is domestic. That matters if you need to leave the 🇺🇸 U.S. and return with the right documents, or if you want to avoid international reentry steps.

Southwest vs Avelo at BNA in 2026: what you’re really choosing

You’re not just choosing an airline. You’re choosing:

• International vs domestic travel
• How often the route operates (Saturday-only vs twice-daily)
• How much flexibility you have if your plans change (important when travel ties to immigration deadlines, interviews, or school/work start dates)

Comparison table: Southwest Airlines vs Avelo Airlines new BNA routes in 2026

Option A deep dive: Southwest Airlines’ 2026 routes from BNA (international + domestic)

Southwest is bringing five new destinations from Nashville International Airport, including two international routes. The international flights are framed as leisure routes, and several of the new routes have limited-day patterns. Plan around that.

Southwest’s new international leisure routes from Nashville

These international routes both operate on a Saturday-only pattern:

• Nashville (BNA) – Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ) starting March 7, 2026 (Saturday-only)
• Nashville (BNA) – San José, Costa Rica (SJO) starting March 7, 2026 (Saturday-only)

Why this matters for immigration travel: If you are a noncitizen traveling internationally, your return to the 🇺🇸 U.S. involves inspection and admission at a port of entry. A Saturday-only schedule gives you fewer options if you must rebook due to delays, a consular appointment change, or a document issue.

Before you fly internationally, match your travel plan to your status:

• If you’re a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), you need a valid green card to return. Extended trips can create problems if you look like you moved abroad.
• If you’re in a nonimmigrant status (like F-1, H-1B, O-1, L-1), you typically need the right combination of a valid passport, visa (if required), and evidence you’re still eligible.
• If you have a pending adjustment of status and you leave without the right travel permission, you can lose that case. If you need advance parole, that’s requested on Form I-131. Use the official USCIS page for details: Form I-131.

⚠️ Important: If your international trip is connected to immigration paperwork, avoid booking return travel so tightly that one cancellation wrecks your plan. A Saturday-only route has less backup space.

Southwest’s new domestic routes from Nashville

Southwest’s new domestic routes from BNA begin March 6, 2026, and they include:

• Nashville (BNA) – Knoxville, Tennessee (TYS) with twice-daily service
• Nashville (BNA) – Little Rock, Arkansas (LIT) starting March 6, 2026
• Nashville (BNA) – Montrose, Colorado (MTJ) starting March 6, 2026, Saturday-only, seasonal ski service

Why these domestic routes matter for immigration planning: Domestic flights don’t include U.S. reentry inspection. That makes them useful “positioning flights” when you need to get to another city for:

• A visa interview at a consulate abroad (you still need an international departure later, but domestic legs help)
• An appointment related to your case
• A school program start, worksite reporting date, or family emergency trip

The standout route for flexibility is BNA–Knoxville twice-daily. Two flights a day gives you more ways to recover from a missed connection or a work delay.

What BNA’s announcement signals for international access

Doug Kreulen, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, said:
“The addition of international service to Montego Bay and San Jose reflects the growing demand for global connectivity and reinforces our role as a world-class airport serving Middle Tennessee.”

For you, the practical point is access. More nonstop options can reduce the number of connections where you can miss a flight or misconnect during tight immigration travel windows.

Option B deep dive: Avelo Airlines’ new BNA route in 2026 (domestic)

Avelo Airlines has a new nonstop route scheduled from Nashville International Airport:

• Nashville (BNA) – Concord, North Carolina (USA) beginning February 12, 2026

This is a domestic U.S. route. That keeps your trip inside the country and avoids international return inspection.

When Avelo makes the most sense for immigration-related travel

A domestic route like BNA–Concord can be a smart pick when your goal is simply to get closer to:

• Another airport with the international flight you need
• A city where you’ll gather documents, meet family, or coordinate an attorney visit
• A worksite or school location

If your immigration plan depends on being physically present in the U.S. on specific dates, domestic travel is usually lower risk than international travel. You still need to carry proper ID, and you should keep proof of your current status handy when traveling.

💡 Pro Tip: If you’re traveling while a case is pending, carry a printed copy of key receipts and approvals. Your phone battery will die at the worst time.

Which is right for you? Pick based on your immigration and travel goals

Your best choice depends on whether you need nonstop international options, how much schedule flexibility you need, and how sensitive your trip is to cancellations.

Choose Southwest Airlines from BNA if you want international nonstop options

Southwest is the clearer choice when you want to fly from Nashville International Airport to an international destination without first connecting through another U.S. hub. That’s most helpful when:

• You’re traveling for a personal trip and you want a simpler path from Nashville to the destination
• You want new international leisure options and you can plan around a Saturday-only schedule
• You want the added benefit of new domestic choices too, including a twice-daily route within Tennessee

Watch out for: Saturday-only service limits your recovery options if anything changes.

Choose Avelo Airlines from BNA if you want to stay domestic and reduce reentry risk

Avelo’s new BNA–Concord route is a better fit when:

• You want to avoid international travel while a case is pending
• Your goal is a domestic repositioning flight to line up another trip
• You need a new nonstop option from Nashville for U.S.-only travel

Watch out for: Domestic flights don’t solve visa stamping needs by themselves. If you must travel abroad, you still need a plan for return.

Practical next steps before you book (especially if immigration is involved)

1. Match the trip to your status. Confirm you’re allowed to depart and return based on your current immigration category.
2. Check your document set. At minimum, travel with your unexpired passport and your current proof of lawful status (plus receipts or approvals if you have them).
3. Avoid tight returns on limited-day routes. Give yourself buffer days if your travel involves appointments or document pickup.
4. Keep your case evidence accessible. Print a small packet: approval notices, receipt notices, employment letter or school letter, and your travel itinerary.

If you want more step-by-step immigration travel guides written for real-life travelers, you can also visit VisaVerge.com.