Southwest Airlines Restarts Longest Nonstop Flight to Orlando

Southwest Airlines is set to reintroduce a nonstop flight between Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) on November 21, 2026, after a six-year hiatus. This route, spanning 2,416 miles, will be the airline's second-longest domestic flight from San Jose and its longest from Orlando, surpassing the current service to Sacramento.

The service will initially operate on select dates from November through January, with plans to resume for the 2027 Northern Hemisphere summer season. Southwest will use its Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, configured with 175 all-economy class seats, for these flights. The schedule includes departures from San Jose at 9:25 AM and returns from Orlando at 4:50 PM, with flight durations ranging from five to six hours.

This expansion brings Southwest's total network from San Jose to 26 destinations, solidifying its position as the largest operator at the airport with a 58% market share. The airline also maintains a significant presence in Orlando, where it handles around 13.6 million passengers annually, accounting for 24% of the airport's traffic.

Southwest's return to this route highlights its strategy to meet leisure travel demand from the San Jose area to Florida, particularly from tech and business travelers in Silicon Valley. The airline continues to grow its point-to-point network, responding to high passenger volumes in the region.