Southwest eyes Mexico and Caribbean routes

According to a

report

in

USA Today

, it's a matter of "when, not if" discount carrier Southwest will add Mexico, Canada, or Caribbean routes.

This fresh look at its operations comes as the airline reflects on its 35 years as the nation's low-cost leader. Facing greater costs than ever before, along with copycat tactics from major carriers and the emergence of a new generation of high-frills low-fare lines (hello, JetBlue), Southwest seems determined to adapt even while it's still at the head of the class.

Other recent changes include

testing assigned seats

and a

greater willingness to raise its fares

, as noted in this space in previous weeks.