Southwest Is Eyeing Its First Wide-Body Jet, and Boeing’s Is Sold Out

Southwest Airlines is reportedly leaning toward the Boeing 787 as its first wide-body aircraft, according to a Reuters report dated October 8 that One Mile at a Time cited. A possible order could cover up to dozens of jets, though no final decision has been made. The airline is studying how fast it could get planes, including through lessors or the secondary market.

Timing is the hurdle: the 787 is reportedly sold out through the end of the decade, so Southwest may need an early delivery slot or another way to acquire aircraft. It is unclear whether a deal would be a new order, jets from a lessor or used planes. The board has the final say, and it formed a Fleet Oversight Committee in 2025 to manage fleet acquisition strategy.

Southwest is weighing long-haul international flights. CEO Bob Jordan has said the goal is up to a dozen long-haul destinations, not a network comparable to the big three U.S. carriers. The stated aims are to give customers fewer reasons to book with competitors and to make its Rapid Rewards program more appealing.

The author flags real challenges. Demand may be seasonal, strong for Europe in summer but weaker in winter, and long-haul demand is concentrated within the big three airlines’ joint ventures, making it harder to compete from outside them. Dallas Love Field and Chicago Midway are poorly suited to long-haul flying, and Baltimore is described as the most logical Europe hub among Southwest’s bases.

Sources: One Mile at a Time, Reuters