Southwest Airlines and Philippine Airlines have announced a new interline partnership designed to improve connectivity for passengers traveling between the United States and Asia. The collaboration expands route options across the Pacific and allows travelers to book single-ticket itineraries combining both carriers’ networks.
The agreement enables Philippine Airlines passengers to connect seamlessly to Southwest-operated domestic flights through Los Angeles (LAX), Seattle/Tacoma (SEA), San Francisco (SFO), and Honolulu (HNL). These U.S. gateways provide access to dozens of Southwest destinations, including nearly four dozen daily interisland flights in Hawaii. The partnership is now live on Philippine Airlines’ booking channels and major travel sites.
Expanded access for U.S. and Asia travelers
Philippine Airlines serves more destinations across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East than any other Philippine carrier, with long-haul services to major U.S. cities. By linking networks, the two airlines aim to make travel more efficient for passengers connecting between North America and the Asia-Pacific region.
“Each airline partnership brings unique and incremental reach to places around the globe for both carriers and gives more consumers an opportunity to begin or end their journey with Southwest,” said Andrew Watterson, Chief Operating Officer at Southwest Airlines. “With nearly 90 flights a day in our schedule that touch the Hawaiian Islands and as California’s largest air carrier, Southwest is positioned like no other airline in serving Philippine Airlines’ passengers arriving or departing the United States.”
For Philippine Airlines, the deal provides a stronger foothold in the U.S. domestic market by linking its long-haul network to Southwest’s extensive point-to-point operations. “Our interline partnership with Southwest Airlines enables seamless connections and single-ticket journeys across both of our networks,” said Christoph Gaertner, Vice President of Revenue Management at Philippine Airlines. “As we continue to expand PAL’s global reach, this collaboration provides more travel options and greater flexibility, giving our guests access to a wider range of destinations in the United States.”
Partnership strengthens Southwest’s global strategy
Southwest Airlines, primarily a domestic carrier, continues to extend its reach through interline agreements with overseas airlines. Philippine Airlines becomes the fourth international partner in its global network. The move follows similar arrangements aimed at simplifying international transfers for travelers who prefer Southwest’s U.S. network.
The Dallas-based airline is also investing in product upgrades as part of its international strategy. Beginning January 27, 2026, Southwest plans to offer assigned seating and extra-legroom options across select flights, along with a redesigned cabin experience. The enhancements are intended to align Southwest’s services more closely with international partner expectations and improve comfort for connecting travelers.
For Philippine Airlines, which celebrated its 84th anniversary in 2025, the partnership adds valuable connectivity to key U.S. destinations where Southwest dominates domestic traffic. The national carrier continues to rebuild and expand post-pandemic, focusing on fleet modernization and digital integration to streamline passenger experience.
The new interline agreement underscores the increasing collaboration between U.S. and Asia-Pacific carriers as international travel demand continues to rise. By offering combined itineraries, Southwest and Philippine Airlines aim to attract both leisure and business travelers seeking more convenient trans-Pacific journeys.
The airlines said they will continue exploring opportunities to enhance passenger connections and expand service offerings as demand for Asia–U.S. travel strengthens through 2026 and beyond.
