Southwest Airlines Announces New Crew Base for Pilots and Flight Attendants

Southwest Airlines announced the addition of a Crew Base at Nashville International Airport (BNA) in the second quarter of 2024, strengthening its ties to Music City. With an expected 150–250 Pilots, who will increase to 500–600 Pilots, and a projected 500–700 Flight Attendants based in the new Crew site starting in 2024, Nashville will become the 12th Crew Base in the Southwest® system, with further expansion anticipated.

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According to Andrew Watterson, chief operating officer of Southwest Airlines, “hundreds of Southwest Employees who work in the air and on the ground already consider Middle Tennessee to be their hometown, with our presence in Nashville remaining a key factor to our success, future growth, and the Reliability of our network.” Given our affection for Nashville and the crucial role it plays in our network, building a Crew Base and strengthening our ties to Music City are obvious choices for additional investments.

On March 18, 1986, Southwest Airlines® started offering service to BNA, with eight nonstop departures each day to Chicago (Midway) and Houston (Hobby). Since then, it has expanded to operate more flights and carry more passengers, becoming the largest carrier at BNA, with up to 166 daily departures to 57 cities nonstop, and it now employs approximately 1,000 people.

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With a goal of having 20 gates altogether by the end of the year to accommodate future passengers travelling into and out of Nashville, the airline is working to add four gates in the fourth quarter of 2023 to support its operation.

By investing in partnerships and initiatives that have a positive influence on the economy, society, and environment, Southwest Airlines continues to expand its corporate citizenship and outreach efforts. The carrier is putting its Heart into action by encouraging each employee to succeed through service to others, creating programmes to serve the needs of its many diverse communities, and interacting with business, civic, and community leaders in order to become a globally renowned corporate citizen and foster real connections that strengthen communities.

Southwest keeps funding upcoming BNA projects. BNA launched a restored and redesigned Grand Lobby earlier this year. To improve the customer experience of those leaving BNA, the carrier is in the process of moving its ticket desks. Additionally, Southwest is still working to improve the BNA airport’s infrastructure, equipment availability, and overall winter availability in order to support employees in operating more effectively and dependably during severe weather.