Inclusion | Southwest Careers

Be part of a winning Team.

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People are, and always have been, the heartbeat of Southwest Airlines^®. Take in their personal perspectives on life, work, and what it means to have a career with Heart.

Bring your authentic self

No matter where you're flying from or what area of Southwest^®interests you, we're connecting you to what matters most. By fostering a Culture of Belonging that cares for and embraces all, we recognize that every experience, perspective, and background makes an incredible impact on our Company. We encourage you to bring your authentic self to work and celebrate what makes you unique! After all, we wouldn’t be Southwest without our People, who are the Heart of it all.

Explore our 2024 One Report

Our commitment to inclusion

Read our DEI Report

Southwest is committed to fostering a Culture of Belonging through the promotion of inclusion and meaningful connections among Employees.

We understand that for every Employee to thrive at Southwest, we must foster an environment where everyone feels respected and appreciated.

We’re focused on being a place where Employees feel welcomed and encouraged to bring their best selves to work without fear of disrespect, discrimination, hate, harassment, injustice, intolerance, or racism.

Woman speaking on stage at the Inclusion Summit

A woman leaning down to kiss a dog on their nose

Six people on the stage speaking at an Inclusion Summit

Two Southwest Employees smiling at the camera

We love our Employee Resource Groups

Wanna know that you belong? Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are formed around a common background or identity. Supported by Southwest Leadership, these groups promote belonging by championing Southwest’s Values and encouraging community. ERGs are open to all Employees who support the group's mission, regardless of whether the Employee shares their common background or identity.

In total, our ERGs have completed over 400 service hours and donated thousands of dollars to non-profits along with over 20,000 items, including women's feminine products, school supplies, and books.There are more than 5,000 members across seven of our current ERGs:

Able@SWA – Employees with Disabilities and Allies
B.E.A.T@SWA – Black Excellence Advancing Together
Corazón@SWA – Hispanic and Latinx Employees and Allies
Military@SWA – Military Employees and Allies

Out & Proud@SWA – LGBTQ+ Employees and Allies
R.A.P.I.D.@SWA – Resilient Asian and Pacific Islander Descendents and Allies
Women@SWA – Employees and Allies

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Inspiring Future Aviators

Captain Geoff brings inclusivity onboard our aircraft, throughout the Company, and with the next generation of aviators through Southwest Airlines partnerships.

Through the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) Aerospace Career Education Academy, Captain Geoff encourages and inspires students of all ages to pursue their dreams and discover that the sky isn't the limit.

Discover how Geoff inspires

"A career at Southwest is one where Employees are inspired to contribute their best because they work in an environment where they are respected for their perspectives, appreciated for their contributions, and recognized for their ownership. Our principle of putting People first means we value the unique backgrounds, experiences, and skillsets of our Employees. These core beliefs guide our hiring efforts and our commitment to create equitable opportunities for all Candidates to flourish and thrive."

Juan Suarez

Vice President of Citizenship & Chief Inclusion Officer

First Officer smiling making a hand heart.

We have careers with Heart.

Photo of Captain Atif F. speaking in a classroom to students

Captain Atif F. inspires the next generation through lessons in aviation for our Adopt-A-Pilot® program

Photo of Eureka D. smiling at a recruiting event

Senior Technology Project Manager Eureka D. shares how Prairie View A&M University “chose her” due to an Army scholarship

Photo of Jen M. holding a flashlight and inspecting the aircraft

Aircraft Quality Control Inspector Jen M.’s advice? “Go after what you actually want to do in life … don’t settle!”

Photo of Holly and Keely P. in front of a Southwest aircraft

First Officer Keely P. and her mom, Captain Holly P., made Southwest history by becoming the first-ever mother/daughter Pilot duo.

Photo of Captain Geoff B. smiling from the flight deck

Captain Geoff B. encourages and inspires students of all ages to pursue their dreams and discover that the sky isn't the limit.

Inclusion Council

The Southwest Airlines Inclusion Council is a group of Employees from different backgrounds, roles, and locations
across the Company, including the Chairs and Co-chairs of our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). Founded over 15 years ago, the Council provides a feedback channel that represents a diverse range of perspectives. The Council also serves as a strategic asset and advisory board to support Senior Leaders in their ongoing efforts to foster a Culture of Belonging.

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Wanna learn more about our upcoming events?

Check out our events page

Our hiring programs

Campus Reach

Our Campus Reach program identifies and engages future Southwest Employees at an early age, hopefully inspiring an interest in a career in aviation.

Learn more about Campus Reach

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Destination 225°^®

Wonder why Destination 225°? On a compass rose, 225° is the southwest heading, and we developed the Destination 225° Pilot Pathways Program to lead aspiring pilots to Southwest Airlines.

Learn more about Destination 225°

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Military

We're grateful for our military service members who give us the freedom to fly. Our colors may be red, yellow, and blue, but our Southwest Heart beats red, white, and blue.

Learn about our military support

Partnerships that matter

At Southwest, we’re proud to support and create valuable connections to the communities you know and love. Whether in the air or on the ground, we believe community is more than a place—it’s at the Heart of what brings us together. Below are just a few of our 400+ partnerships, supporting impact across our communities. Learn more about our partnerships and awards.

Partner with us

"Inclusion has always been at the Heart of who we are at Southwest, and we’re committed to evolving our hiring, training, and development processes to drive progress and change. By engaging, understanding, and drawing on a variety of perspectives we can continue to celebrate our People and further enrich our Culture."

Elizabeth Bryant

Senior Vice President & Chief People Officer

Accommodations

Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer that provides reasonable accommodations in its application process for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you have difficulty using our online careers page or participating in the hiring process due to a disability and require an accommodation, please email Accommodations.Team@wnco.com.

Please use "Accommodation Request" as the subject line of your email or call us at (877) 792-4792.

For more information on Southwest's hiring practices, please see the following policies:

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Disability Discrimination and Workplace Accommodation Policy

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy for Persons with Disabilities and Covered Veterans. If you’d like to view a copy of our Veteran Affirmative Action Plans, please email Employment.Compliance@wnco.com.

Southwest Airlines Policy Concerning Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation

For audio versions of the policies, download the policies and open them in Acrobat Reader. Select View >Read Out Loud >Activate Read Out Loud. Then select View >Read Out Loud >Read To End of Document.