Brandwave

Cathay Pacific vs Southwest Airlines:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Southwest Airlines had more branded searches than Cathay Pacific among airline brands worldwide. Southwest Airlines had about 4.1 million branded searches, while Cathay Pacific had 1.5 million. Southwest Airlines made up 12.9% of all airline brand searches we track, and Cathay Pacific accounted for 4.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about airline brands, Southwest Airlines appeared in three of the five answers and Cathay Pacific in two. Cathay Pacific and Southwest Airlines were each mentioned first in two of the four answers.

Among airline brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Southwest Airlines, about 3 searches for every 1 for Cathay Pacific

Southwest Airlines 4.1M searchesCathay Pacific 1.5M searches

Who does AI mention more?

Southwest Airlines, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Cathay Pacific in 2

Southwest Airlines in 3 of 5Cathay Pacific in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.

Cathay Pacific first in 2Southwest Airlines first in 2

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Top airline brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Southwest Airlines was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Cathay Pacific was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Cathay Pacific and Southwest Airlines were each listed first in two of the four answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Delta Air Lines1st
  2. Qatar Airways2nd
  3. Singapore Airlines3rd
  4. Southwest Airlines4th
  5. United Airlines5th
  6. Emirates6th
  7. Cathay Pacific7th
  8. British Airways–
  9. Qantas–
  10. Air New Zealand–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • United Airlines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Emirates3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Southwest Airlines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Delta Air Lines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Qatar Airways3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Singapore Airlines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Cathay Pacific2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • British Airways0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Qantas0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Air New Zealand0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about airline brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is Cathay Pacific or Southwest Airlines more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Cathay Pacific and Southwest Airlines by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten airline brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Cathay Pacific and Southwest Airlines among airline brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Southwest Airlines, Cathay Pacific. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthUnited AirlinesBritish AirwaysEmiratesSouthwest AirlinesDelta Air LinesQatar AirwaysSingapore AirlinesCathay PacificQantasAir New Zealand
Oct 202517.9%12%14.6%14.6%9.8%12%6.5%5.3%5.3%2%
Nov 202519.1%10.4%15.6%12.7%10.4%12.7%7%4.7%5.7%1.7%
Dec 202520.1%11%13.4%13.4%11%13.4%6%4.9%4.9%1.8%
Jan 202616.4%13.4%13.4%13.4%11%13.4%7.3%4.9%4.9%1.8%
Feb 202618.1%12.1%14.8%14.8%9.9%12.1%6.6%4.4%5.4%1.6%
Mar 202616.2%10.8%19.7%10.8%8.8%16.2%7.2%4.8%4%1.5%
Apr 202618.8%12.6%15.4%12.6%10.3%12.6%6.9%4.6%4.6%1.7%
May 202618.8%12.6%12.6%15.4%12.6%10.3%6.9%4.6%4.6%1.7%
Jun 202618.8%12.6%12.6%15.4%10.3%12.6%6.9%4.6%4.6%1.7%
Jul 202618.4%12.3%12.3%15%12.3%12.3%6.7%4.5%4.5%1.7%
Aug 202618.6%12.4%12.4%15.2%12.4%10.2%6.8%4.6%5.6%1.7%
Sep 202619.3%15.7%12.9%12.9%10.5%10.5%7%4.7%4.7%1.7%

How has the Cathay Pacific and Southwest Airlines comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for airline brands worldwide in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, British Airways overtook Southwest Airlines to rank 2nd among airline brands worldwide, with 15.7% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Southwest Airlines lost share of searches among airline brands worldwide, from 15.2% to 12.9%.

  3. In September 2026, Cathay Pacific rose from 9th to 8th among airline brands worldwide.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Cathay Pacific’s and Southwest Airlines’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Cathay Pacific

1 branded search term

  • cathay pacific

Southwest Airlines

1 branded search term

  • southwest airlines

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among airline brands

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