Brandwave

Delta Air Lines vs Southwest Airlines:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Southwest Airlines had more branded searches than Delta Air Lines among airline brands worldwide. Southwest Airlines had about 4.1 million branded searches, while Delta Air Lines had 3.4 million. Southwest Airlines made up 12.9% of all airline brand searches we track, and Delta Air Lines accounted for 10.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about airline brands, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines each appeared in three of the five answers. Delta Air Lines was mentioned before Southwest Airlines in every answer that named either.

Among airline brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Southwest Airlines, about 22% more searches than Delta Air Lines

Southwest Airlines 4.1M searchesDelta Air Lines 3.4M searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.

Delta Air Lines in 3 of 5Southwest Airlines in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Delta Air Lines, named ahead of Southwest Airlines in 3 of 3 answers

Delta Air Lines first in 3Southwest Airlines never first

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Top airline brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines were each mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Delta Air Lines was listed before Southwest Airlines in every answer that named either.

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 Delta Air Lines or Southwest Airlines more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Delta Air Lines 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.

Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines among airline brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines. 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 Delta Air Lines 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, Delta Air Lines lost share of searches among airline brands worldwide, from 12.4% to 10.5%.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Delta Air Lines’ 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.

Delta Air Lines

2 branded search terms

  • delta air lines
  • delta airlines

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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