27 April 2026 (Geneva) – Southwest Airlines has joined IATA;s Schedule Data Exchange Program (SDEP), bringing the number of contributing airlines to 190. The SDEP was launched in late 2023 to build a uniquely airline-owned schedule and minimum connecting time exceptions database. Schedule data underpins many aspects of an airline;s business, including network planning, slot coordination, and interline agreements. Data coverage now exceeds 70% available seat kilometers (ASKs) of airlines based in Asia, Middle East, and Africa, and is expected to reach 90% coverage globally by end of 2026. Protecting Industry Data A key benefit of the
