Southwest Airlines cuts pilot bases as part of reorganization

Internal Southwest Airlines plans have revealed that the airline is planning base reductions in Atlanta and Denver, which the carrier's spokesperson confirmed to my.

Confirming a previous Aero Crew News report, a Southwest Airlines spokesperson said that its upcoming “modest reductions” to its crew bases at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Denver International Airport (DEN) are part of its previously announced strategy to maximize the revenue-generating potential of its fleet.

“Employees will transfer to other bases, and no reductions in force have occurred.”

The airline noted that the shift was part of its network realignment before introducing red-eye flying and general flight schedule changes, which will result in fewer aircraft remaining overnight at some airports, including Denver.

Furthermore, the reductions in Atlanta are smaller than initially anticipated, and the overall number of daily flights at Denver Airport should remain the same.

At the same time, other airports, especially Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Nashville International Airport (BNA), have a growing need for pilots.

In an internal memo shared by the aviation watchdog JonNYC on Bluesky, Southwest Airlines outlined to its flight crews that Atlanta and Denver would have 115 and 90 fewer pilots, respectively, between March and May.

Reductions at Dallas Love Field (DAL, 20 fewer first officers), Orlando International Airport (MCO, 20 fewer first officers), and Oakland International Airport (OAK, five fewer first officers) are also coming.

Meanwhile, some bases will be growing substantially. The airline will be looking to add up to 100 pilots in Baltimore, 95 in Nashville, and 45 at Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW).

Smaller additions include 25 additional pilots at Houston William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) and ten first officers at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

Data from the aviation analytics company Cirium's Diio Mi airline planning system showed that during the first nine months of 2025 (Southwest Airlines has not yet filed data beyond September), the airline will have 6.2% fewer flights and offer 4.1% fewer seats from/to Denver year-to-date (YTD) compared to the same period in 2024.

From/to Atlanta, capacity cuts are even steeper, with 35.5% fewer flights and 34.2% fewer seats YTD compared to the corresponding period a year prior.

While Southwest Airlines emphasized that the changes will not affect its pilot headcount, the airline previously said that it has been overhiring over the past few months due to delivery delays from Boeing .

In addition to the late deliveries of the 737 MAX 8 , the manufacturer has yet to certify the 737 MAX 7 , with Southwest Airlines holding the majority (284 out of 334) backlog for the type, according to ch-aviation's data.

Thus, the carrier’s executives revealed during the company’s investor day in September 2024 that Southwest Airlines’ short-term growth will come from within, including red-eye flights that will increase its aircraft utilization compared to previous periods.

Combined with essential-only hiring, this will allow the airline to unshackle itself from the “current Boeing-driven overstaffing drag in 2025,” according to Bob Jordan, the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Southwest Airlines.