(ORLANDO) Orlando International Airport added five new nonstop flights this month, all operated by Southwest Airlines, marking another step in a record year of growth for one of the nation’s busiest hubs. On August 5, 2025, Southwest launched direct service from MCO to Fort Myers (RSW), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Sarasota (SRQ), and West Palm Beach (PBI). The routes strengthen Florida’s in-state air network and link Orlando to key national markets, easing trips for business travelers and families heading to Central Florida’s theme parks and conventions.
Airport officials and airline leaders say the moves reflect strong demand across Florida and steady national interest in Orlando. As of August 26, 2025, the new services are in full swing and are part of a broader 2025 expansion at Orlando International Airport that includes more than 22 new routes throughout the year, with additional international connections on the calendar.
New routes and frequencies
Southwest’s intra-Florida addition between Sarasota and Orlando is operated twice daily on Boeing 737 aircraft, closing a gap in the state’s air map. The other four routes—Fort Myers, Los Angeles, Miami, and West Palm Beach—are running daily or twice daily to support both leisure and business travel patterns.
- New routes started August 5, 2025:
- Fort Myers (RSW) — nonstop flights by Southwest Airlines
- Los Angeles (LAX) — nonstop flights by Southwest Airlines
- Miami (MIA) — nonstop flights by Southwest Airlines
- Sarasota (SRQ) — nonstop flights by Southwest Airlines, operated twice daily on Boeing 737s
- West Palm Beach (PBI) — nonstop flights by Southwest Airlines
Sarasota stands out because it adds an in-state city pair that shortens cross-Florida car trips into an easy hop. Fort Myers and West Palm Beach improve access to Florida’s Gulf and Atlantic coasts, while Miami gives Orlando stronger links to South Florida’s global gateway. Los Angeles provides coast-to-coast reach, which matters for film, tech, and convention traffic, and helps families and students who split time between Florida and Southern California.
The aim is simple: reduce travel time, cut down on connections, and give more travelers a nonstop option to the region.
Airline strategy and market context
The five launches underscore a tactical push by Southwest Airlines to meet high regional demand while sustaining key national links. Orlando is a natural focus: it draws heavy family traffic year-round, conferences stack the calendar, and Florida’s population keeps growing.
- Frequent services (daily or twice daily) help travelers:
- Plan flexible day trips for work
- Book weekend getaways
- Make quick family visits without the stress of a connection
There is also a broader airline context. Southwest has announced cost-saving steps elsewhere, including a planned 15% reduction in workforce and seat capacity for late 2025 and early 2026. Even with those cuts, the carrier is targeting markets with sharp demand and steady yields. If the August launches perform well, Southwest has indicated it may add more flights within Florida.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, expanding intra-Florida nonstops can help an airline hold customers in a competitive market, especially when travelers prefer shorter, simpler trips. For Orlando International Airport, each new nonstop flight adds resilience to the schedule and helps spread passenger traffic across more city pairs, reducing pressure on network choke points during busy holiday and event periods.
Economic ripple effects and traveler impact
Tourism and business leaders across Central Florida expect the new routes to boost local visitor spending and reduce friction for companies that operate across the state. Fewer connections mean less time lost to layovers and fewer missed meetings. For families, nonstop flights cut down on stress and make weekend trips realistic even with kids and luggage.
- Expected benefits:
- Increased visitor spending
- Easier business travel and fewer missed meetings
- More weekend city-hops and day trips for families and leisure travelers
The airport is scaling to meet demand. Orlando International Airport is in a record-setting year with more than 22 new routes scheduled in 2025. The addition of Terminal C — along with further development plans — supports the growth push and prepares the airport for more flights and bigger crowds. The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) has worked with regional partners to manage that growth, and investments from airlines and local organizations continue to flow.
International and further domestic growth in 2025–2026
Beyond the August domestic launches, Orlando’s 2025 expansion includes important international dates:
- Discover Airlines — Munich service started in March 2025
- Air France — Paris service slated for May 21, 2025 (pending approval)
- Iberia — Madrid service begins October 26, 2025
Domestic additions announced for late 2025 and early 2026 include:
- Breeze Airways — Lincoln, Nebraska and Tri-Cities, Tennessee (December 10, 2025)
- Porter Airlines — Hamilton, Ontario (December 12, 2025)
- Southwest — St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (February 5, 2026)
- Allegiant Air — Appleton/Green Bay, Wisconsin (January 16, 2026)
These additions show carriers are balancing investments across both popular leisure routes and smaller cities that feed into Orlando’s visitor economy.
Airport ranking, investments, and regional partnerships
Orlando International Airport’s national standing reflects this momentum. It has become the seventh-largest airport in the U.S. by passenger volume, driven by airline investments and collaborative efforts between:
- Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA)
- Orlando Economic Partnership
- Local business groups
Notable investments include United Airlines’ $315 million technical operations complex, an example of the scale of projects anchoring long-term growth.
Traveler checklist: using the new nonstop flights
For flyers ready to use the new nonstop flights, a simple plan helps:
- Book early: Find seats on Southwest Airlines at southwest.com or through your preferred travel site. Early bookings often mean better prices and seat choices.
- Check schedules: Most routes run daily or twice daily, but times vary by day and season. Confirm your flight time before you leave for the airport.
- Know your terminal: Southwest flights at Orlando International Airport generally depart from Terminal A or B. Confirm at booking and watch for updates in your app or email.
- Plan ground transport: At MCO, options include rental cars, rideshare, taxis, and shuttles. Theme park visitors often use services set up for major resorts.
For airport service details, parking options, or up-to-date route maps, visit the official MCO site at flymco.com. For governance, projects, and board updates, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority provides public information at goaa.aero. This public authority oversees the airport’s operations and long-term planning, including capacity upgrades that support expanding routes.
What to watch next
Stakeholders across Florida say the August launches will help bind the state’s metro areas and give travelers choices that fit their budgets and schedules. Sarasota’s airport chief, Rick Piccolo, emphasized the regional benefits, pointing to stronger business links and more tourist traffic on both ends of the route.
For Southwest Airlines, Orlando remains a high-value station with a deep leisure base and year-round family travel. The airline’s mix of short hops and cross-country flying from MCO aims to serve commuters, theme park visitors, and conference attendees. If these flights continue to fill up, more in-state and near-in options could follow, as noted by Southwest spokesperson Jack Varela.
As for international reach, 2025’s European announcements layer on top of the domestic surge, creating a network that connects Orlando with Munich, Paris (pending approval), and Madrid by the end of October. That blend of long-haul and regional service gives the airport flexibility to weather seasonal swings and draw visitors from a wider set of cities.
Travelers should keep an eye on schedules and seasonal changes, especially around holiday peaks and summer travel. Airlines sometimes adjust frequencies, and early morning and late-night departures can open up better fares.
In the months ahead, watch for more route news as carriers assess bookings and fine-tune capacity. The Orlando Economic Partnership and local business groups back the airport’s growth because reliable air service helps attract employers, fill hotel rooms, and bring repeat visitors back to Central Florida. For now, the August launches offer a clear win for travelers who want shorter trips, fewer layovers, and straightforward options into and out of Orlando.
For route updates, terminal information, and traveler services at Orlando International Airport, check flymco.com. For public governance materials, capital projects, and board actions, consult the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority at goaa.aero. And for trip planning on the new services, head to Southwest Airlines at southwest.com.
This Article in a Nutshell
On August 5, 2025, Southwest began five nonstop MCO routes (RSW, LAX, MIA, SRQ, PBI) as part of Orlando’s 2025 expansion, easing travel and boosting regional connections.
