"If you're crazy enough to do what you love for a living, then you're bound to create a life that matters."
- Herb Kelleher,
Southwest Airlines® Founder
Southwest Airlines® Founder
A glimpse at our history
A glimpse at our history
Time flies when you’re democratizing the skies.
1967
Southwest’s first route map started as a simple sketch drawn onto a cocktail napkin. Fondly known as “The Texas Triangle,” the airline began by serving only three major cities in Texas: Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. However, it didn’t take long for Southwest to expand and start “spreading love all over Texas.”
1972
When Southwest had to give up one of its four aircraft in order to keep the Company solvent, our People worked heroically to maintain the same operational schedule with fewer planes. Even when industry regulations, increased operational complexity, and security requirements made the 10-Minute Turn impossible, Southwest still maintained some of the best turn times in the industry, and continues to work on perfecting safe, quick turns well into the 21st century.
1992
By the early 90s, Southwest was running TV ads with the slogan “Just Plane Smart.” An aviation company in South Carolina thought it sounded a bit too close to their own slogan. What could have become an expensive legal battle instead turned into an arm wrestling competition for the use of the slogan. The 1992 event was coined “Malice in Dallas.”
2020
Frontline Employees continued to provide legendary Hospitality and Customer Service with a smile (even behind the masks) in airports, maintenance hangars, and more.
Corporate Citizenship at Southwest
Corporate Citizenship at Southwest
At Southwest Airlines, our corporate citizenship efforts focus on People, Performance, and Planet, all supported by strong corporate governance. These efforts, commonly referred to as ESG (environmental, social, and governance), support our Purpose to connect People to what’s important in their lives through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel, and our Vision to be the world’s most loved, most efficient, and most profitable airline.
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People
We’re a Company of People, focused on serving People—including Employees, Customers, and communities. People are, and always have been, the heartbeat of Southwest Airlines, and we work to advance and protect the things that are important in their lives including celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion and supporting our communities through our outreach efforts. Our focus on People includes giving the same concern, respect, and care to each one of our People, whoever they are.
PlanetWe take pride in being the airline with Heart, which includes respecting our Planet. We’ve set a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and we've released a 10-year environmental sustainability plan to make progress this decade. See all the ways we show Heart for the Planet, from operational efficiencies and policies to community support.
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Performance and governance
We have an unmatched record of strong financial performance in the U.S. airline industry, with low fares and a robust network that supports market leadership; a strong Culture; outstanding Customer Service; and reliable, efficient, and low-cost operations. Sound governance is a fundamental principle at Southwest. We strive to maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct and are proud of Southwest's history of strong corporate governance, beginning with the Company's Board of Directors.
Our Heart in action
Our Heart in action
We care for and celebrate one another—and we also put our Heart in action! Southwest Employees are encouraged and empowered to create a community wherever they are by volunteering, supporting Cohearts, and giving back.