CLEVELAND, Ohio – Southwest Airlines plans to eliminate service between Cleveland and Atlanta, part of a wider reduction at the world’s busiest airport.
The airline announced this week that it would scale back its flying in Atlanta, eliminating service to 15 cities, including Cleveland. The cuts take effect in April.
Other cities affected: Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
In addition to Atlanta, Southwest currently flies to nine cities from Cleveland, including Baltimore, Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis, Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Orlando.
The drawdown in Atlanta comes as the carrier struggles to return to sustained profitability following industry disruption from the COVID pandemic.
In recent months, Southwest has announced some dramatic changes to its business model designed to increase revenue, including adding extra-legroom seats, where previously it offered only coach seating; and replacing its open-seating policy with assigned seats. Those changes are expected to go into effect in the first half of 2026, the airline announced recently.
The airline is also under pressure from an activist investor, Elliott Investment Management, which owns 11% of Southwest stocks and has demanded dramatic change.
The cuts in Atlanta will result in the reduction of more than 300 pilot and flight attendant positions, according to CNBC.
Clevelanders who are headed to Atlanta will still have options once Southwest exits the route. Both Delta and Frontier airlines offer nonstop service between Cleveland and Atlanta.
