Southwest Airlines Files for Approval to Possibly Launch International Flights

Southwest Airlines is seeking approval to expand internationally.

According to Reuters, Southwest filed a petition with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) this week requesting permission to operate flights to any country that has an open skies agreement with the U.S.—a list that includes nations across Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa.

While the airline hasn’t announced any specific routes or timelines, it told Reuters the filing is simply meant to take advantage of the DOT’s streamlined regulatory procedures.

Given the changes Southwest has made over the past year, an interest in international expansion isn’t surprising. Following a high-profile fight with an activist investor, the airline has shifted several long-standing policies in an effort to become what it calls a “more agile organization.”

Those changes include dropping its long-held “Bags Fly Free” policy earlier this year and announcing plans to phase out open seating. The airline also updated its future flight credit policy—starting May 28, credits will expire one year from the date of a canceled flight.

Other recent moves, such as the introduction of a premium ticket option with extra legroom and the launch of redeye domestic flights—both features that have proven profitable for competitors—are part of the same strategy that could eventually lead Southwest into the international market.