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Chart your course with Destination 225°®

Set your compass to 225°

On a compass rose, 225° is the southwest heading. We developed the Southwest Airlines® Destination 225° Program to train and lead aspiring pilots, like you, to Southwest.


Here are just a few of the many ways Destination 225° guides the way: 

  • Inspiring Mentorships. Learn, grow, and build relationships with some of the best Pilots in the business.
  • Multiple Pathways. Become an airline pilot no matter your flight experience, current career, or education.
  • Big Dreams. Let your dreams take flight and discover what it's like to fly a 737. 
From the office to the skies | Cadet Bailey G.

Ready for your career to take flight? Our application is opening soon!

We're thrilled to announce that our Destination 225° Cadet pathway application will open on Thursday, June 4, at 10 a.m. CT and remain open until Tuesday, June 9 at 11:59 p.m. CT.

Join our Talent Community to stay up to date and be among the first to know when the application is live! 
Join our Destination 225° Talent Community
Ready for your career to take flight?
Destination 225° FAQs
Learn more on  Destination 225°  

Putting the "Family" in Southwest Family.


​​​​​​​As a cadet in Destination 225°, Pashi S. made a big career change inspired by his sister, Southwest First Officer Vicky K. He’s now chasing his aviation dreams and taking the concept of family to new heights.
Photo of Pashi S. and Vicky K. on the flight line
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Find your Destination 225° Pathway

Destination 225° trains and empowers future pilots on how to fly The Southwest Way. If you've ever dreamed of a career at 35,000 feet, set your course for 225° through one of our four pathways: Cadet, University, Military, or Employee.
Destination 225° Cadet and Flight Instructor in the flight deck
Cadet Pathway
Ready for your career to take flight? Through this pathway, you start from the ground up with little to no flight experience.
Destination 225° Cadet and Flight Instructor flying
University Pathway
Create your own flight path by pursuing a four-year degree in aviation through our university partners and gain valuable flight experience.
Destination 225 Cadet - Pashi S. doing a pre-flight check
Military Pathway
Bridge the gap between military flight experience and the start of your civilian flying career through this pathway.  
Picture of Destination 225 classroom learning
Employee Pathway
Are you a current Southwest Employee that dreams of an office in the sky? Visit the Destination 225° page on SWALife to learn more.

Upcoming Information Session

Prepare to fly with Destination 225°, the fastest path to the right seat of a Southwest 737! Our Destination 225° Team is hosting virtual information sessions to give you a sneak peek into the basic requirements of the program and tips and tricks on how your career can soar to a First Officer seat in a Southwest 737.

See more
Info session graphic
May 28, 2026
1:30 p.m. CT

Cadet Pathway Virtual Information Session
Join the info session

Fly by the Destination 225° Team!

The Destination 225° Team plans to attend the following upcoming events*:

Professional Asian Pilots Association Expo

June 13- 1, 2026
Learn more

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

July 20 - 26, 2026
Learn more

OBAP 50th
Annual Conference

August 12 - 14, 2026
Learn more
*The listed events are subject to change and may vary based on availability.
Photo of Destination 225° Cadets flying at CAE in PHX, Arizona

Training partners

We proudly partner with the following training organizations to instruct future airline pilots safely and effectively.
US Aviation Academy logo
Bell Murray Aviation logo
CAE logo
SkyWarrior logo

University partners

We’re excited to partner with the following universities’ aviation programs to see your career soar.
Angelo State University's logo
Arizona State University's logo
Auburn University's logo
Baylor University's logo
Kent State University's logo
Louisiana Tech University's logo
Middle Tennessee State University's logo
University of Nebraska at Omaha's logo
Oklahoma State University's logo
University of Oklahoma's logo
Southeastern Oklahoma State University's logo
Texas Southern University's logo

Program partners

We're thrilled about our partnerships with the following organizations who commit to going above and beyond to employ Destination 225° participants.
AdvancedAir_200x150
Clay Lacy's logo
FlyHouse's logo
Freight Runner's logo
Jetlinx's logo
SkyWest's logo
Thrive Aviation's logo
XOJet's logo
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