Southwest Airlines to Migrate Entire Tech Stack to AWS by 2028
Event summary
- Southwest Airlines will transition from on-premises to a fully cloud-based, AI-enabled architecture on AWS by 2028.
- The airline is using AWS's Kiro service to modernize Southwest.com, accelerating legacy code refactoring for 2,700 developers.
- Southwest is adopting AI-driven development lifecycle (AIDLC) to transform software development across the organization.
- The partnership aims to improve speed, flexibility, and reliability in operations, customer experience, and system scalability.
The big picture
Southwest's shift to AWS aligns with the broader airline industry trend of leveraging cloud and AI technologies to streamline operations and enhance customer service. The move reflects a strategic pivot towards digital transformation, aiming to improve system scalability and operational efficiency. With over 134 million customers in 2025, the success of this transition could set a precedent for other airlines looking to modernize their technology infrastructure.
What we're watching
- Execution Risk
- Whether Southwest can successfully migrate its entire tech stack to AWS without operational disruptions.
- Cost Efficiency
- How the transition to cloud-based systems will impact Southwest's long-term cost structure.
- AI Adoption
- The pace at which AI-driven development will enhance Southwest's customer experience and operational performance.
Related topics