Southwest Airlines will open its first airport lounges in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville, with the initial locations expected to begin opening in late 2027. Construction is already under way at Austin-Bergstrom, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall, Daniel K. Inouye International and Nashville International airports, as the carrier moves into a lounge market it has not previously served.
The programme is set to expand beyond the four launch airports, with at least seven additional lounges planned in later years. Southwest has linked the rollout to a broader premium strategy that includes a new Rapid Rewards credit card from Chase, expected to launch in 2027 and provide access to the lounge network. The move broadens the airline’s commercial offer beyond its traditional low-cost, no-frills positioning and puts lounges alongside other customer-facing premium initiatives now in development.