Southwest Airlines Takes Off from Knoxville: Ending a Long Wait at McGhee Tyson Airport
On March 5, 2026, Southwest Airlines officially launched service at McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) near Knoxville, becoming the second new carrier to join the airport in under two years and marking a major milestone for East Tennessee travelers.
The inaugural flight—a signature Southwest plane in blue, red, and yellow—departed at 1:20 p.m. bound for Orlando, Florida. Gov. Bill Lee joined celebrations in East Tennessee to highlight the new direct connections to key destinations, including Dallas, Baltimore, Nashville, Orlando, and Tampa. An Austin, Texas, route (seasonal, Saturdays only) is slated to start in October 2026, with seasonal Denver flights also planned.
This launch ends years of anticipation: Airport staff famously posed with a “Knoxville is waiting” sign in front of a chartered Southwest plane back in 2017. Behind the scenes, McGhee Tyson prepared by allocating terminal space, finalizing operating agreements, and upgrading infrastructure to accommodate the low-cost carrier’s needs.
The timing aligns with booming growth at TYS. In 2024, the airport was named the nation’s fastest-growing major airport (among the top 100 U.S. airports) by the U.S. Department of Transportation, with passenger traffic surging over 18% year-over-year to a record 3.26 million passengers. Key drivers include proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (the most-visited in the U.S.), record enrollment and expansion at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and thriving scientific, energy, and nuclear sectors bolstered by federal priorities.
To support this surge, a new $197.4 million (approximately $200 million total) parking garage—featuring a mountainscape design—is under construction, with vertical progress underway and completion expected in summer 2027. A recent $22.5 million state grant is helping fund the addition of 3,500 spaces.
Southwest joins Allegiant, American, Avelo (which launched in May 2024, ending a decade-plus drought for new airlines), Delta, Frontier, and United at TYS, pushing direct nonstop destinations to more than 30 cities nationwide. Initial service includes twice-daily flights to Nashville and daily round-trips to Baltimore, Dallas, and Orlando.
For Knoxville-area residents and visitors, Southwest’s arrival means more affordable, convenient options for getaways—especially timely for spring break travelers. As one of the most beloved U.S. carriers joins the mix, McGhee Tyson continues its upward trajectory as East Tennessee’s gateway to the skies. Safe travels!
