Southwest Leans Toward Boeing 787 for First Long-Haul Flights, Reuters Reports

October 9, 2026 — Southwest Airlines is leaning toward the Boeing 787 as its first widebody jet for long-haul international flights, Reuters reported on Thursday. No decision has been made, and Southwest says it has no fleet news to announce.

What happened

Reuters cited three people familiar with Southwest’s fleet planning. One said the airline has looked at a fleet of dozens of 787s. The final call belongs to the board, which set up a fleet oversight committee last year.

Southwest flies only Boeing 737s today. Airbus has pitched the A321XLR and A330neo for long-haul flying and the A220 for other parts of the network, but the sources said the 787 is in the stronger position.

Item	Detail
Aircraft favoured	Boeing 787; variant not known
Fleet size discussed	Dozens of aircraft, per one source
Timetable	About three years; launch date TBA
How it could get aircraft sooner	Leasing or buying used 787s
Decision	Not made; board approval needed

Boeing says new 787s are sold out through the end of the decade, which is why leased or second-hand aircraft are being considered. Chief executive Bob Jordan said in May that 8 to 12 long-haul destinations could cover most of where Southwest customers want to go.

A new aircraft type would probably mean talks with the pilots’ union over pay and work rules, plus new training and maintenance programmes. Union president Jody Reven has said the company has discussed both a large aircraft and a long-range narrowbody.

Southwest’s only comment to Reuters: “We do not have any news forthcoming related to our fleet plans.”

Hurricane Isaias. Separately, Southwest has a travel advisory for Destin/Fort Walton Beach, New Orleans, Panama City Beach and Pensacola for October 8–11, and for Birmingham for October 9–11. Customers can rebook or wait for an open seat on another flight within 14 days of their original date with no change in fare.

What it means for travelers

Nothing changes for travelers today. This is a report about a plan, with a roughly three-year horizon.
Gulf Coast this weekend: Southwest is letting customers rebook or wait for an open seat on another flight within 14 days with no change in fare at the five advisory airports, so expect full flights at those airports.