Southwest Goes Tex-Mex

U.S.-based low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines flies into the international freight transportation field with the launch of a new Houston-Mexico City route. The carrier plans to add Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas to its network by end of summer 2018.

The airline is starting with four roundtrips per day between Mexico City International Airport and William P. Hobby Airport, and will move a range of commodities—including perishables, retail goods, and medical related shipments—with the new service.

To lay the foundation for the international shipping service, Southwest Cargo rolled out a new point-of-sale system, Southwest Cargo Suite, enabling forwarders to book shipping space in advance.

The company also accelerated the delivery dates for 23 firm orders of the 737 MAX 8s aircraft from 2023-2024 to 2021-2022, and deferred 23 orders for the smaller MAX 7. The MAX 8 has the ability to "fly farther and carry more weight," says Wally Devereaux, Southwest’s senior director of cargo and charters.