Long-Awaited Nonstop Flight to Nashville Launches Today
Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden among first passengers on inaugural Southwest flight
INDIANAPOLIS (March 6, 2025) – Today is the day! After seven years of diligent work to secure a nonstop flight from the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) to Nashville (BNA), Southwest Airlines will launch its inaugural flight to the Music City at 1:05 p.m. today out of Indy.
Josef Newgarden, back-to-back, two-time Indy 500 champion, will be among the first passengers to fly out of Indy to Nashville on the inaugural flight. Newgarden will join officials from Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indianapolis Airport Authority to unveil the design of the 2025 Indianapolis 500 ticket before leaving for Nashville.
“It’s a big day, with some big announcements all centered around a flight that has been a long time in the making,” said Mario Rodriguez, executive director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority. “We’ve been working for seven years to land this nonstop route, and today it goes into operation, with Newgarden and IMS helping us celebrate this achievement that will benefit our 2025 spring break travelers almost immediately, and our Nashville-based Indy 500 fans in May.”
Once arriving in Nashville today, Newgarden and INDYCAR and IMS President J. Douglas Boles will visit Indianapolis 500 ticketholders in Nashville and end the day with a fan event.
Newgarden, a Nashville native and Indy 500 winner, fits perfectly into the Southwest Indy-to-Nashville inaugural launch.
“As someone who goes back and forth from Nashville to Indy frequently, I’m excited to have this new nonstop flight on Southwest,” said Newgarden. “I think Southwest and I have a lot in common – we’re focused on family, all about heart and we love big machines that go fast. And with the one-hour time difference, it will take no time at all to get from Indy to my home base in Nashville.”
In just a quick, one-hour flight, travelers can touch down and experience Nashville’s music, nightlife, and parks.
The new Southwest nonstop flight will operate daily from Indy to Nashville, year-round.
Southwest also announced that it will increase its capacity overall through the Indy airport year over year during the peak 2025 Spring Break travel season.
Currently Southwest flies nonstop out of Indy to Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Cancun, Dallas-Love Field, Denver, Panama City, Ft. Lauderdale, Houston-Hobby, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Orlando, Miami, Phoenix, Ft. Myers, San Diego, Sarasota/Bradenton and Tampa.
In August, Southwest will launch nonstop service to Chicago Midway (MDW) flying twice daily, year-round.
Both the Nashville and Chicago Midway flights will provide further access for Hoosiers to connect to more of Southwest’s extensive network.
To purchase tickets for the Indy-to-Nashville nonstop flight, visit https://www.southwest.com/.
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