Southwest Airlines Airport Codes & IATA Code (WN): Complete 2026 Guide
Planning a Southwest Airlines route starts with knowing the right airport code.
If you've ever booked a flight and stared at three confusing letters like MDW, HOU, or BWI wondering what they actually mean β you're not alone. Airport codes (officially called IATA codes) are the backbone of every airline reservation, boarding pass, and baggage tag. This guide breaks down every major airport code Southwest Airlines flies to, explains how to read them, and helps you avoid the booking mistakes that cause missed flights and wasted money. Need help sorting it out? AllAirlineTicketAgency books and rebooks across every carrier, Southwest included.
For a full review of Southwest in 2026, see our Southwest Airlines reviews 2026 guide.
π Table of Contents
- What is the Southwest Airlines IATA Airline Code (WN)?
- What Is an Airport Code, and Why Does It Matter?
- Southwest Airlines Hub & Focus City Codes
- East Coast Codes
- Midwest & Central Codes
- South & Southwest U.S. Codes
- Florida & Southeast Codes
- Common Airport Code Mix-Ups to Avoid
- How to Find the Right Airport Code Every Time
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Southwest Airlines IATA Airline Code?
Southwest Airlines' IATA airline code is WN. This 2-letter code appears at the start of every Southwest flight number, such as WN123. The code WN originates from Southwest's historical callsign "Western" and is used across all booking systems, boarding passes, and flight-tracking sites. When you book a Southwest flight, you will always see WN followed by the flight number.
Note: WN is the airline code (identifying the carrier). MDW, DAL, HOU are airport codes (identifying specific airports). They are two completely different systems.
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π Call Our Travel Desk: +1 (888) 217-8056What Is an Airport Code, and Why Does It Matter?
Every commercial airport in the world has a unique 3-letter IATA code assigned by the International Air Transport Association. Airlines, booking systems, and baggage handlers use these codes instead of full city names because they're faster to process and eliminate confusion between cities with similar names.
Southwest Airlines flies to over 120 destinations across the United States and select international markets, and getting the airport code right matters for a few practical reasons:
- Cities with multiple airports β Houston has two Southwest-served options, Chicago has one, New York has more than one nearby.
- Similar city names β booking the wrong "Portland" or "Columbus" can put you in the wrong state entirely.
- Faster search and comparison β knowing codes helps you compare fares across dates and nearby airports quickly.
- Baggage and connections β your bag tag and gate screens will only show the code, not the city name.
Knowing your airport code makes checking in, tracking gates, and rebooking far faster.
Southwest Airlines Hub & Focus City Codes
Southwest's largest operating bases are spread across the country. These are the codes you'll see most often on Southwest itineraries:
| Code | Airport | City |
|---|---|---|
| MDW | Chicago Midway International | Chicago, IL |
| DAL | Dallas Love Field | Dallas, TX |
| HOU | William P. Hobby Airport | Houston, TX |
| BWI | Baltimore/Washington International | Baltimore, MD |
| DEN | Denver International | Denver, CO |
| LAS | Harry Reid International | Las Vegas, NV |
| PHX | Phoenix Sky Harbor International | Phoenix, AZ |
| ATL | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International | Atlanta, GA |
| MCO | Orlando International | Orlando, FL |
| OAK | Oakland International | Oakland, CA |
East Coast Codes
| Code | Airport | City |
|---|---|---|
| BOS | Logan International | Boston, MA |
| PHL | Philadelphia International | Philadelphia, PA |
| PVD | T.F. Green International | Providence, RI |
| ALB | Albany International | Albany, NY |
| RDU | Raleigh-Durham International | Raleigh/Durham, NC |
| CHS | Charleston International | Charleston, SC |
| PIT | Pittsburgh International | Pittsburgh, PA |
Midwest & Central Codes
| Code | Airport | City |
|---|---|---|
| STL | St. Louis Lambert International | St. Louis, MO |
| MCI | Kansas City International | Kansas City, MO |
| MSP | Minneapolis-St. Paul International | Minneapolis, MN |
| OMA | Eppley Airfield | Omaha, NE |
| IND | Indianapolis International | Indianapolis, IN |
| CMH | John Glenn Columbus International | Columbus, OH |
| MKE | Milwaukee Mitchell International | Milwaukee, WI |
Flying Southwest through MSP? It shares Terminal 2 (Humphrey) with Sun Country β our Minneapolis airport code guide and Sun Country Airlines review cover that side of the airport, while our Delta Terminal MSP guide covers Terminal 1 if your connection routes through Delta instead.
For a full airline-by-airline breakdown of MSP Terminal 1 vs Terminal 2, see our MSP Terminal 1 or 2 guide.
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Tell our agents your travel dates and city β we'll confirm the correct airport, compare fares, and complete the booking for you over the phone.
π Speak to an Agent Now: +1 (888) 217-8056South & Southwest U.S. Codes
| Code | Airport | City |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | Austin-Bergstrom International | Austin, TX |
| SAT | San Antonio International | San Antonio, TX |
| ELP | El Paso International | El Paso, TX |
| MSY | Louis Armstrong New Orleans International | New Orleans, LA |
| TUS | Tucson International | Tucson, AZ |
| ABQ | Albuquerque International Sunport | Albuquerque, NM |
| OKC | Will Rogers World Airport | Oklahoma City, OK |
Florida & Southeast Codes
| Code | Airport | City |
|---|---|---|
| FLL | Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
| TPA | Tampa International | Tampa, FL |
| MIA | Miami International | Miami, FL |
| JAX | Jacksonville International | Jacksonville, FL |
| RSW | Southwest Florida International | Fort Myers, FL |
| PBI | Palm Beach International | West Palm Beach, FL |
| BNA | Nashville International | Nashville, TN |
Double-checking your airport code before booking prevents last-minute surprises.
Common Airport Code Mix-Ups to Avoid
Houston: HOU vs. IAH
Southwest primarily serves Houston Hobby (HOU), not George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), which is mainly used by other carriers. Booking IAH by mistake for a Southwest flight is one of the most common errors travelers make.
Dallas: DAL vs. DFW
Southwest's home base is Dallas Love Field (DAL), separate from Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW), which is roughly 20 miles away and served by other airlines.
Chicago: MDW vs. ORD
Southwest flies primarily out of Midway (MDW), while O'Hare (ORD) is a separate airport on the other side of the city.
Portland, OR vs. Portland, ME
PDX (Oregon) and PWM (Maine) are entirely different states β always confirm the state, not just the city name, when booking. For any code you're unsure of, our airport code finder covers 400+ airports worldwide.
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π Get Help Now: +1 (888) 217-8056How to Find the Right Airport Code Every Time
- Search by city, not airport name β most booking tools auto-suggest every airport serving that city.
- Check the state abbreviation next to the city name before confirming.
- Compare nearby airport codes β sometimes a code 30β60 minutes away has a notably cheaper fare.
- Save your confirmed code in your notes app so check-in and boarding pass verification is instant.
- When in doubt, call an agent β a two-minute phone call is far cheaper than a missed flight from the wrong airport.
A confirmed airport code means a smoother trip from curb to gate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Southwest Airlines IATA airline code?
WN is Southwest Airlines' IATA airline code. It appears on all Southwest flight numbers (e.g., WN123). The code originates from Southwest's historical callsign "Western" and is used across all booking systems, boarding passes, and flight-tracking sites.
What does the "MDW" airport code stand for?
MDW is the IATA code for Chicago Midway International Airport, one of Southwest's largest operating bases.
Does Southwest Airlines fly internationally?
Yes β Southwest serves select international destinations across Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America in addition to its U.S. domestic network.
Can two airports in the same city have different codes for the same airline?
Yes. Many major metro areas (Houston, Dallas, Chicago, New York, Washington D.C.) have multiple airports, and Southwest typically operates from only one or two of them per city.
Where can I get help if I booked the wrong airport code?
Contact your booking agency or airline as soon as possible. Our travel desk at +1 (888) 217-8056 can review your itinerary and outline your options for correcting it.
Is this website an official Southwest Airlines site?
No. AllAirlineTicketAgency.com is an independent travel agency. This guide is provided for general informational purposes to help travelers understand airport codes. For official Southwest policies, always confirm directly at southwest.com or 1-800-435-9792.
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