Etihad to Announce ‘Around 10’ New Routes for 2025: Exclusive

It’s that time of year again. Leaves are changing colors, shoulder season trips are in full swing, and international airlines are sharing what new routes travelers can expect next summer.

Southwest Airlines is extending its flight schedule into early next summer and introducing new destinations from its Nashville hub. The airline, which usually releases its schedule eight months in advance, has just released its booking calendar through June 4, 2025, announced Wednesday. With the schedule update, the carrier has announced several key updates across its network. For starters, the carrier will expand significantly out of Nashville International Airport (BNA), which has been one of Southwest's fastest-growing hubs and newest crew bases.  Starting April 8, 2025, the carrier will begin daily service from Nashville to Albuquerque, Jackson, and Tulsa; as well as up to 6x weekly flights to Providence and up to 5x weekly flights to Albany. In addition, the airline will offer “intra-Tennessee service for the first time” with its brand-new, once-daily service from Nashville to Memphis.  “The new flights will boost Southwest’s scheduled presence in Nashville to an all-time high of 174 Sunday departures in April and May 2025,” the airline wrote in a statement. The new route announcement comes as the airline is undergoing notable changes, as Southwest will introduce its first-ever overnight flights to its network next February. With today’s announcement, the airline shared a few more routes that will see redeye service — flights from Honolulu to Las Vegas and Phoenix, Kona to Las Vegas, and Maui to Las Vegas and Phoenix will be offered as red-eyes starting April 8, 2025.

Southwest Airlines is slashing unprofitable routes as it faces intensifying pressure from an activist investor to boost revenue and cut costs.

Bachelorette parties tend to be big extravagant parties. That’s why New Orleans is the ideal bachelorette party destination: There’s live music, seafood restaurants, drinking is allowed on the street — and of course, you can’t miss out on the rowdy atmosphere of the Bourbon street bars. So make the most of your time you need a New Orleans bachelorette party airbnb that is comfortable and stylish — and a pool doesn’t hurt either.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, September 25, and here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Amtrak is launching a brand-new route this fall that will run from Chicago all the way down to Miami. 

Celestyal Cruises has unveiled a new guide for travel advisors. 

Spirit Airlines is embracing fall with a great sale that has one-way flights starting as low as $40.

Waiheke Island, off the coast of Auckland, New Zealand, is known to attract a wealthy crowd.

Just as September or «National Passport Month is underway, the U.S. State Department has released additional dates for its ongoing passport fairs, making applying for a first time passport even easier.  The agency published an updated schedule for September and October, which will take place in many states including California, Georgia, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. For example, the Seattle Passport Agency will be open on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 9am-2pm, where the office is regularly closed on weekends. Applicants should be advised that appointments are required, and can be booked on the office’s website.  Other events include the Boston Passport Agency on Sept. 26, Atlanta Passport Agency on September 28, the University of Texas at Dallas on September 28, the Broward County Clerk in Ft. Lauderdale, FL on Oct. 12, and more. 

JetBlue is making a major splash in the premium travel space with its first-ever airport lounges. The New York-based carrier will open two lounges starting in 2025, JetBlue said Thursday — one at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and another at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).

The chief executive of Alaska Airlines, Ben Minicucci, has big plans. Now, he has a second airline to help achieve them.