Southwest Airlines
Dallas-based airline flying an all-Boeing 737 fleet, with the Destination 225 pilot pathway program for cadets, university students, military pilots, and employees.
Overview
Southwest Airlines is a major U.S. airline headquartered at Dallas Love Field, flying only Boeing 737 aircraft. Its pilot pathway program, Destination 225 (written Destination 225°), has cadet, university, military, and employee routes and works with partner flight schools, universities, and smaller operators where pilots build experience. Applications to Destination 225 were closed when this entry was reviewed in September 2026, and Southwest cut about 1,750 corporate jobs in 2025. Southwest also employs A&P technicians and FAA-certificated dispatchers.
Student Insights
Destination 225 routes
The Cadet pathway starts people with little or no flight time at one of Southwest's three flight training partners. Southwest's cadet page publishes estimated program costs: CAE up to $125K, SkyWarrior up to $120K, and US Aviation up to $115K, each with additional loans available for housing, courseware and a stipend. The University pathway runs through partner universities including Arizona State, Auburn, Baylor, Kent State, Oklahoma State, the University of Oklahoma, Middle Tennessee State, Louisiana Tech, Texas Southern, Angelo State, Southeastern Oklahoma State, and Nebraska-Omaha. Pilots then build experience at program partners such as SkyWest, Jet Linx, Clay Lacy, XOJET Aviation, Advanced Airlines and Freight Runners before applying to Southwest. There are also Military and Employee pathways.
Check the status before planning around it
Southwest's Destination 225 Cadet and University pathway pages said 'Destination 225 applications are currently closed' in September 2026 and pointed applicants to the Destination 225 Talent Community for notice of the next posting window. The program pages are still live and list their partners, but there is no published reopening date.
Dispatch
An FAA aircraft dispatcher certificate is required. Under 14 CFR 65.53 you can take the knowledge test at 21 but must be 23 to hold the certificate.
AI Outlook
Pilot, dispatcher, and A&P technician jobs are FAA-certificated roles. Data and AI tools support planning and maintenance analysis but do not change the certificate requirements for entry.
Student Hiring
Typical Roles
Notable Programs
- Destination 225 pilot pathways program
Career Connections
AeroEd career pathways relevant to Southwest Airlines.