Southwest to Launch Wichita-Nashville Nonstop Jan. 6
Southwest Airlines will begin nonstop service between Wichita and Nashville on January 6, 2027, two months earlier than originally planned.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Air Travel
Southwest Airlines will launch nonstop service between Wichita and Nashville on January 6, 2027, moved up two months from its original schedule. The first nonstop flight from Wichita to Nashville costs $119 for a basic ticket and $159 for a choice ticket.
Why it matters
The new route expands nonstop options for Wichita travelers, and the Wichita airport is separately pursuing an East Coast nonstop route after receiving a $1 million federal grant. The airport now offers nonstop flights to 15 destinations.
The first Wichita-to-Nashville flight departs at 7:40 a.m. on January 6 at $119 basic or $159 choice, and the return departs Nashville at 8:15 a.m. at the same fares. Fares were checked on Southwest's Low Fare Calendar, and the East Coast route remains unconfirmed.
The players
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines is a major low-cost carrier headquartered in Dallas, Texas, known for its point-to-point network and no-frills fare structure.
Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport
Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport is the primary commercial airport serving Wichita, Kansas, and the surrounding region.
The details
Southwest's Nashville service begins January 6, 2027, with the first flights leaving Wichita at 7:40 a.m. and Nashville at 8:15 a.m. The Wichita airport announced the launch in an October 22 Facebook post and said airport administration has identified Charlotte and New York City as target markets for a future East Coast nonstop.
Timeline
October 22, 2026: Wichita airport announces the Nashville launch on Facebook.
January 6, 2027: Southwest nonstop service between Wichita and Nashville begins.
January 2027: Return flights to Wichita are priced similarly to departing flights.
Season Trajectory
The Wichita airport's $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program is funding its pursuit of an East Coast nonstop route, following the Nashville launch. This places the Nashville service within a broader federal effort to expand nonstop options for small-community airports.
Travelers planning January trips from Wichita to Nashville should note that the first flight costs $119 basic or $159 choice, and that Sunday departures will cost slightly more on this route. Booking early may help secure these launch fares, since most January nonstops are priced the same as the first flight.
The takeaway
Travelers flying between Wichita and Nashville starting January 6, 2027, can compare the launch fares on Southwest's Low Fare Calendar before choosing travel dates. Checking fares early gives the clearest sense of what the new nonstop will cost.
What happens next
The Nashville nonstop service begins January 6, 2027, and the airport's East Coast route pursuit will proceed from its current grant-funded planning stage.
Further reading
For more on flight options out of the region, explore Air Travel coverage for Wichita.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wichita Eagle.
