Southwest announces will launch first ever red-eye flights in its 57 year history, with overnight trips set to take off from Las Vegas and Hawaii

Southwest Airlines will be introducing a new overnight flight option for their customers in the near future.

The airline's chief commercial officer Ryan Green announced at Routes America on March 20 that Southwest is planning to launch their first ever red-eye flights.

Green revealed during the air travel conference that Southwest does not have a specific start date but that they are 'working on it.'

The CCO also told attendees that he believes the overnight flights could start two years from now, and that they might work well in Las Vegas and Hawaii.

'There's some technology to work through, there's some labor agreement stuff to work through,' said Green.

Southwest Airlines’ chief commercial officer (CCO) Ryan Green announced at Routes American on March 20 that the company will be launching overnight flights out of Las Vegas and Hawaii

Green revealed at the conference that Southwest does not have an official date of when the red-eyes will start but that he believes it will begin by 2026

At the conference, he spoke highly about launching the overnight flights in Las Vegas and Hawaii, but he did not mention where else Southwest is looking to start doing overnight hauls. 

The Texas-based airline was founded by Herb Kelleher and Rollin King in 1967.

'The biggest thing that makes us "us" is our people, and the unique and unrivaled hospitality they deliver,' Southwest's CEO Bob Jordan.

'No one has a heart for service like the people of Southwest Airlines, No one.'

The company also has the largest Boeing fleet in the world and has been the launch for each new generation of Boeing's 737-series aircrafts for more than 30 years. 

Southwest Airline flights are currently being offered at more than 120 airports across 11 countries. 

According to OAG Schedules Analyser via Aviation Airline, Southwest operated 1,732 weekly flights to Las Vegas and 604 to Hawaii for the week that ended on March 25.

'I think Vegas is going to be a place where we can do some red-eye flying, use the aircraft—sweat those assets a little bit harder...,' Green said during the conference.

'But Vegas is one of those markets that I think will fit in nicely with red-eyes.'

Green added that he also believes that the red-eyes would 'definitely be a benefit' for the Southwest Airline flights in Hawaii. 

The CCO spoke highly about the overnight flight launch in Las Vegas and Hawaii and did not discuss any other locations where they will offer red-eyes

The plans for the overnight flight will be partially determined by the technology being worked through and working out labor agreements

The announcement of Southwest's future overnight flights came just over a year after the airline canceled nearly 17,000 flights in December 2022.

A settlement for the issue was reached in December 2023 and the airline was forced to pay more than $140 million in damages.

Southwest also announced earlier this month that the airline would have to trim its capacity plans due to the delivery delays from Boeing.

'Boeing needs to become a better company and the deliveries will follow that,' Jordan said at a JPMorgan industry conference earlier this month.

The airline will continue operating Boeing aircrafts but the company is making modifications to all of their planes. 

The Texas based airline was founded by Herb Kelleher and Rollin King in 1967 and currently has the largest Boeing fleet in the world

A settlement was reached last year between Southwest and the government after the airline canceled nearly 17,000 flights in December 2022

Green discussed the upcoming makeovers of all of the Southwest Airlines aircrafts.

The airline first announced the plan for new seat and cabin designs on February 2.

'Southwest flies above our competition with industry-leading flexibility and our legendary Hospitality,' said chief customer officer Tony Roach in a statement.

'Our redesigned cabin interior significantly enhances our inflight Customer experience and will complement the amazing service that our Crews provide.'

According to Green, all of the aircraft modifications are currently being worked on and new Recaro seating will be installed in all of Southwest's planes by the end of this year.