A chief executive officer ( CEO ), also known as a chief executive or managing director , is the top-ranking corporate executive charged with the management of an organization , usually a company or a nonprofit organization .
68-605: Southwest Airlines Co. is a major airline in the United States that operates on a low-cost carrier model. It is headquartered in Love Field, Dallas , in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex , and has scheduled service to 121 destinations in the United States and ten other countries. As of 2018, Southwest carried more domestic passengers than any other United States airline. It is currently the third largest airline in
136-464: A "top-secret security measure" installed in all of the airline's 737-800 aircraft. Southwest and the pilot union stated that the film was a hoax and a "poor attempt at humor" by one of the pilots, who had previously recorded himself on a different aircraft, fully clothed. In February 2020, a report conducted by the DOT inspector general found that Southwest was flying airplanes with safety concerns and that
204-769: A brief period when it operated a handful of leased Boeing 727 aircraft). Southwest is the world's largest operator of the Boeing 737, and was the launch customer of the 737-300 , 737-500 , and 737-700 . It took delivery of its 1,000th Boeing 737 in 2023. Using a single basic aircraft type allows Southwest pilots and flight attendants to crew any aircraft in the fleet without restrictions. Southwest Airlines solely offers economy class seating and does not have business class or first class cabins on its aircraft. The company permits two free-of-charge checked bags per passenger, and passengers are permitted to change their flight up to 10 minutes prior to their flights without extra charge. In
272-488: A company's business decisions, including those in operations, marketing, business development , finance, human resources , etc. The use of the CEO title is not necessarily limited to describing the head of a company. For example, the CEO of a political party is often entrusted with fundraising, particularly for election campaigns. In some countries, there is a dual board system with two separate boards, one executive board for
340-424: A corporation or company typically reports to the board of directors and is charged with maximizing the value of the business, which may include maximizing the profitability , market share , revenue , or another financial metric. In the nonprofit and government sector, CEOs typically aim at achieving outcomes related to the organization's mission, usually provided by legislation . CEOs are also frequently assigned
408-540: A destination, including any stops or connections on Southwest Airlines. When 16 credits were accumulated in a 24-month period, Southwest awarded one free round-trip ticket that was valid for 12 months. On March 1, 2011, Rapid Rewards changed to a points system based on ticket cost. Members earn and redeem points based on a four-tier fare scale multiplier and the cost of the ticket. Changes also included no blackout dates , seat restrictions, or expiring credits. Since October 18, 2019, Rapid Rewards points do not expire as long as
476-402: A facade of charm and eloquence. Traits such as courage and risk-taking, generally considered desirable, are often found alongside these psychopathic tendencies. Tara Swart, a neuroscientist at MIT Sloan School of Management , has suggested that individuals with psychopathic traits thrive in chaotic environments and are aware that others do not. As a result, they may intentionally create chaos in
544-416: A flight from Chicago Midway Airport because of an unconfirmed head lice accusation. The family did not have lice and was re-accommodated on a flight two days later. In October 2019, a Southwest flight attendant filed a lawsuit against the airline, claiming that two pilots had livestreamed footage from a camera hidden in the plane's toilet to an iPad , and that one of the pilots said that such cameras were
612-462: A formal delegation of authority regarding business administration . Typically, responsibilities include being an active decision-maker on business strategy and other key policy issues, as well as leader , manager, and executor roles. The communicator role can involve speaking to the press and to the public, as well as to the organization's management and employees; the decision-making role involves high-level decisions about policy and strategy. The CEO
680-507: A high level of employee and aircraft productivity with low unit costs by reducing aircraft turnaround time, particularly at the gate. Europe's EasyJet and Ryanair are two of the best-known airlines to follow Southwest's business strategy in that continent. Other airlines with a business model based on Southwest's system include Canada's WestJet , Malaysia 's AirAsia (the first and biggest LCC in Asia ), India's IndiGo , Australia's Jetstar ,
748-457: A lawsuit, the CEOs for both companies staged an arm-wrestling match. Held at the now-demolished Dallas Sportatorium and set for two out of three rounds, the loser of each round was to pay $ 5,000 to the charity of his choice, with the winner gaining the use of the trademarked phrase. A promotional video was created showing the CEOs "training" for the bout (with CEO Herb Kelleher being helped up during
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#1732771754753816-486: A new Training and Operational Support building, across the street from its current headquarters building. The property includes a two-story, 100,000-square-foot Network Operations Control building that can withstand an EF3 tornado. It also includes a four-story, 392,000-square-foot office, and training facility with two levels devoted to each function. The new facilities house 24-hour coordination and maintenance operations, customer support and services, and training. The project
884-512: A settlement with a U.S. company—and Kelly retired early. Southwest simultaneously promoted industry veteran Rakesh Gangwal , had been appointed to the board in July 2024, to chair of the board. Gangwal is co-founder of India's largest airline IndiGo and a former senior executive at United Airlines and US Airways . As of January 2024, Southwest Airlines flies to over 100 destinations in 42 states, Puerto Rico , Mexico , Central America , and
952-417: A sit-up where a cigarette and glass of Wild Turkey 101 whiskey was waiting) and distributed among the employees and also as a video press release along with the video of the match itself. Herb Kelleher lost the match for Southwest, with Stevens Aviation winning the rights to the phrase. Kurt Herwald, CEO of Stevens Aviation, immediately granted the use of "Just Plane Smart" to Southwest Airlines. The net result
1020-599: A source of criticism following a dramatic rise in pay relative to the average worker's wage . For example, the relative pay was 20-to-1 in 1965 in the US, but had risen to 376-to-1 by 2000. The relative pay differs around the world, and, in some smaller countries, is still around 20-to-1. Observers differ as to whether the rise is due to competition for talent or due to lack of control by compensation committees. In recent years, investors have demanded more say over executive pay. Lack of diversity amongst chief executives has also been
1088-504: A source of criticism. In 2018, 5% of Fortune 500 CEOs were women. In 2023 the number rose to 10.4% of for Women CEO's of Fortune 500 companies . The reasons for this are explained or justified in various ways, and may include biological sex differences, male and female differences in Big Five personality traits and temperament, sex differences in psychology and interests, maternity and career breaks, hypergamy , phallogocentrism ,
1156-410: A subsidiary of Qantas (although Jetstar now operates three aircraft types), Philippines ' Cebu Pacific , Thailand 's Nok Air , Mexico 's Volaris , Indonesia 's Lion Air and Turkey 's Pegasus Airlines . Southwest Airlines has a history of lobbying against high-speed rail , which it sees as a competitor for short-distance commuter flights. In the early 1990s, Southwest lobbied US Congress and
1224-656: A testing phase that began in February 2009, Southwest announced on August 21, 2009, that it would begin rolling out in-flight Wi-Fi Internet connectivity via Global Eagle Entertainment's satellite-broadband-based product. Southwest began adding Wifi to its aircraft in the first quarter of 2010. The airline began testing streaming live television in the summer of 2012 and video on demand in January 2013. As of September 2, 2023, live in-flight TV, movies, messaging (iMessage and WhatsApp) and real-time flight-tracking information via Wi-Fi
1292-688: A union not affiliated with the Air Line Pilots Association , represents the airline's pilots. The aircraft maintenance technicians are represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association . Customer service agents and reservation agents are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union. Flight dispatchers, flight attendants, ramp agents, and operations agents are represented by
1360-402: A woman was removed from a Southwest flight after claiming to have a life-threatening allergy to dogs, two of which were present on the aircraft, including a service animal . Southwest employees requested that she provide documentation of her condition and staff asked her to exit the aircraft multiple times. Police ultimately had to escort her away. On December 29, 2017, a family was removed from
1428-448: Is available to passengers, with full Internet access available at a fee for regular passengers. Southwest first began to offer a frequent-flyer program on June 18, 1987, calling it The Company Club . The program credited for trips flown regardless of distance. Southwest Airlines renamed its frequent-flyer program Rapid Rewards on April 25, 1996. The original Rapid Rewards program offered one credit per one-way flight from an origin to
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#17327717547531496-401: Is now its most popular destination. Southwest Airlines was profitable for 47 consecutive fiscal years, from 1973 through 2019. Southwest experienced a holiday meltdown in 2022 resulting in the cancellation of thousands of flights representing over 70% of its schedule following the late December 2022 North American winter storm . As a result of the crisis, the airline reached a settlement with
1564-402: Is often used in lieu of chief executive officer. Business publicists since the days of Edward Bernays (1891–1995) and his client John D. Rockefeller (1839–1937) and even more successfully the corporate publicists for Henry Ford , promoted the concept of the " celebrity CEO". Business journalists have often adopted this approach, which assumes that the corporate achievements, especially in
1632-418: Is sometimes included as one such subordinate executive officer, but, as suggested by Anthony Johndrow, CEO of Reputation Economy Advisors, it can also be seen as "simply another way to add emphasis to the role of a modern-day CEO – where they are both the external face of, and the driving force behind, an organization culture". In the US, the term "chief executive officer" is used primarily in business, whereas
1700-427: Is tasked with implementing the goals, targets and strategic objectives as determined by the board of directors. As an executive officer of the company, the CEO reports the status of the business to the board of directors, motivates employees, and drives change within the organization. As a manager, the CEO presides over the organization's day-to-day operations. The CEO is the person who is ultimately accountable for
1768-479: Is to prevent a conflict of interest and too much power being concentrated in the hands of one person. In the United States, the board of directors (elected by the shareholders ) is often equivalent to the supervisory board, while the executive board may often be known as the executive committee (the division/subsidiary heads and C-level officers that report directly to the CEO). In the United States, and in business,
1836-726: The Caribbean . Southwest uses a point-to-point system combined with a rolling-hub model in its base cities, in contrast to the hub-and-spoke system of other major airlines. As of November 2024, the Southwest Airlines fleet consists of 828 aircraft, making it the fourth-largest commercial airline fleet in the world. All of the aircraft Southwest Airlines operates are from the Boeing 737 family of narrow-body airliners. Since its inception, Southwest Airlines has almost exclusively operated Boeing 737 aircraft (except for
1904-552: The Dictionary says that the use of "CEO" as an acronym for a chief executive officer originated in Australia , with the first attestation being in 1914. The first American usage cited is from 1972. The responsibilities of an organization's CEO are set by the organization's board of directors or other authority, depending on the organization's structure. They can be far-reaching or quite limited, and are typically enshrined in
1972-503: The Federal Aviation Administration was failing to properly oversee the airline. In 2020, a captain of a Southwest flight watched pornography on a laptop computer with his clothes removed while his female first officer continued her duties. The captain retired before the incident was reported, but he was subsequently prosecuted for intentionally committing a lewd, indecent or obscene act in a public place, and
2040-487: The United States Department of Transportation including a record-setting $ 140 million fine , the largest fine ever imposed by the agency by a factor of roughly 30, and reported losses exceeding $ 1.1 billion stemming from the crisis. In May 2024, Southwest fares started showing on Google for the first time after long being excluded from the search engine's search results. Southwest lost $ 219 million in
2108-404: The "Big 4" major U.S. national airlines This article about an aviation -related organization is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Chief executive officer CEOs find roles in various organizations, including public and private corporations , nonprofit organizations , and even some government organizations (notably state-owned enterprises ). The governor and CEO of
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2176-535: The CEO is also the president, is the vice president (VP). An organization may have more than one vice president, each tasked with a different area of responsibility (e.g., VP of finance, VP of human resources). Examples of subordinate executive officers who typically report to the CEO include the chief operating officer (COO), chief financial officer (CFO), chief strategy officer (CSO), chief marketing officer (CMO) and chief business officer (CBO). The public relations -focused position of chief reputation officer
2244-648: The Company’s strategy." That September, in response to pressure from Elliott, Southwest announced that Gary C. Kelly would retire in 2025 rather than seeking reelection as executive chairman , and that several members of the corporate board would be replaced. Bob Jordan remained as chief executive officer (CEO) despite Elliot's efforts to oust him. In September 2024, Southwest Airlines announced its first airline partnership with Icelandair . In November 2024, five of Elliot's nominees were seated on Southwest’s board—the largest number of board seats ever gained by Elliott in
2312-455: The Country", "THE Low Fare Airline", "Grab your bag, It's On!", and "Welcome Aboard". The airline's slogan (as of 2022) is "Low fares. Nothing to hide. That's TransFarency!" In March 1992, shortly after Southwest started using the "Just Plane Smart" motto, Stevens Aviation , which had been using "Plane Smart" for its motto, advised Southwest that it was infringing on its trademark. Instead of
2380-560: The Texas Legislature to oppose a high-speed rail system between Dallas , San Antonio , and Houston , and filed three lawsuits against the initiative. In 1991, Southwest told Texas authorities, "Rail has a romantic appeal, but this case cannot be decided on the basis of nostalgia or even a desire to emulate the rail service of France and Germany. The American reality is that high-speed rail will be viable in Texas only by destroying
2448-754: The Transport Workers Union. The company has appeared on various "best places to work" list, with its employee culture mentioned by Travel and Leisure , CNBC , and Forbes . The company has also been named to Fortune magazine's "Most Admired Companies" list, reaching number 14 in 2021. Southwest has never furloughed an employee. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic , the company launched voluntary separation and extended time-off programs in 2020, and around 16,900 employees volunteered to take an early retirement or long-term leave . Roughly 24% were pilots and 33% were flight attendants. In late 2020,
2516-528: The UK, chief executive and chief executive officer are used in local government , where their position in law is described as the "head of paid service", and in business and in the charitable sector . As of 2013 , the use of the term director for senior charity staff is deprecated to avoid confusion with the legal duties and responsibilities associated with being a charity director or trustee, which are normally non-executive (unpaid) roles. The term managing director
2584-717: The airline changed its name to Southwest Airlines and began operating regularly scheduled flights between the Texas Triangle cities of Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. In 1975, Southwest began flying to other cities in Texas, and in 1979, after passage of the Airline Deregulation Act , it began flying to adjacent states. It started service to the East and the Southeast in the 1990s, and Denver in 2006, which
2652-607: The airline issued some WARN Act notices and announced incipient pay cuts for many employees in response to pandemic impacts, but these measures were rescinded after the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 was enacted on December 27, 2020, providing additional financial aid to US airlines. The latest five year labor contract for Southwest Airlines pilots was approved in January 2024. Southwest and its business model have had an influence on other low-cost carriers (LCC's). The competitive strategy combines
2720-548: The airline terminated his retirement benefits. Major airlines of the United States The United States Department of Transportation defines a major carrier or major airline carrier as a U.S.-based airline that posts more than $ 1 billion in revenue during a fiscal year , grouped accordingly as "Group III". According to FY2024 revenues, 19 major carriers meet the requirement for Group III status. (*) - considered one of
2788-422: The arena of manufacturing, are produced by uniquely talented individuals, especially the "heroic CEO". In effect, journalists celebrate a CEO who takes distinctive strategic actions. The model is the celebrity in entertainment, sports, and politics – compare the " great man theory ". Guthey et al. argues that "...these individuals are not self-made, but rather are created by a process of widespread media exposure to
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2856-529: The carrier's executive chairman with the desire to serve in that role through at least 2026 at the discretion of the board of directors. Jordan also joined the board then. On January 10, 2017, Southwest announced changes to the company's executive leadership ranks, with Thomas M. Nealon named as president and Michael G. Van de Ven as the airline's chief operating officer. On September 14, 2021, Southwest announced Nealon had decided to retire from his duties as president effective immediately, but would continue to serve
2924-617: The case of a partnership , an executive officer is a managing partner, senior partner, or administrative partner. In the case of a limited liability company , an executive officer is any member, manager, or officer. Depending on the organization, a CEO may have several subordinate executives to help run the day-to-day administration of the company, each of whom has specific functional responsibilities referred to as senior executives, executive officers or corporate officers. Subordinate executives are given different titles in different organizations, but one common category of subordinate executive, if
2992-446: The company as a strategic advisor. Chief Operating Officer Mike Van de Ven was named as the company's president the same day, and remains COO. In September 2024, in response to pressure from Elliott Investment Management, Kelly announced that he would not seek reelection as executive chairman in 2025. Jordan is expected to remain as CEO. About 83% of Southwest employees are members of a union . The Southwest Airline Pilots' Association,
3060-533: The convenient and inexpensive transportation service the airlines now provide, and only by absorbing huge public subsidies." In 1994, the high-speed rail initiative was cancelled. While several reasons led to the initiative's demise, most commentators attribute a key role to Southwest Airlines' aggressive campaign against it. The company has always employed humor in its advertising. Former slogans include "Love Is Still Our Field", "Just Plane Smart", "The Somebody Else Up There Who Loves You", "You're Now Free to Move About
3128-450: The day-to-day business and one supervisory board for control purposes (selected by the shareholders). In these countries, the CEO presides over the executive board and the chairperson presides over the supervisory board, and these two roles will always be held by different people. This ensures a distinction between management by the executive board and governance by the supervisory board. This allows for clear lines of authority. The aim
3196-693: The event of a cancellation, passengers are refunded a travel credit in the amount spent on their ticket, and the credit may be used toward other Southwest Airlines or Southwest Vacations purchase. The credit does not expire. Southwest offers free in-flight nonalcoholic beverages and offers alcoholic beverages for sale for $ 6 to $ 7 per beverage. Free alcoholic drinks are offered to passengers who are at least 21 on some holidays such as Valentine's Day and Halloween . They also have complimentary snacks on all flights. Southwest has become known for colorful boarding announcements and crews who sometimes burst out in song. Prior to 2007, Southwest boarded passengers by grouping
3264-506: The executive officers are usually the top officers of a corporation, the chief executive officer (CEO) being the best-known type. The definition varies; for instance, the California Corporate Disclosure Act defines "executive officers" as the five most highly compensated officers not also sitting on the board of directors. In the case of a sole proprietorship , an executive officer is the sole proprietor. In
3332-562: The existence of old boy networks , tradition, and the lack of female role models in that regard. Some countries have passed laws mandating boardroom gender quotas. In 2023 Rockefeller Foundation awarded a grant to Korn Ferry to research strategies and then action a plan to help more women to become CEO's. There are contentious claims that a significant number of CEO's have psychopathic tendencies, often characterized by power-seeking behavior and dominance. These individuals can often conceal their ruthlessness and antisocial behavior behind
3400-756: The fastest method currently in use for passengers to board a plane; on average, it is 10 minutes faster than the standard method. The airline was also number-one on the 2020 Airline Quality Rating list. Southwest has a "customer of size" policy in which the cost of a second seat is refunded for any plus-sized travelers who take up more room than one seat. On July 25, 2024, Southwest announced that it would soon be ending its long-standing open seating policy. The airline will start assigning seats, introduce premium seating options with more legroom, and launch overnight flights beginning in 2026. As of September 2023, Wi-Fi costs $ 8, and allows for streaming live television, movies, streaming music, and app messaging. After completing
3468-463: The following decades. Southwest currently serves airports in 42 states and multiple Central American destinations. Southwest's business model is distinct from that of other US airlines. It uses a rolling hub and point-to-point network and allows free checked baggage . Its fleet exclusively consists of Boeing 737 jets. The airline has nearly 66,100 employees and operates about 4,000 daily departures during peak travel season. Southwest Airlines
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#17327717547533536-480: The fourth quarter of 2023 and $ 231M in the first quarter of 2024; that April, it announced it would limit hiring and cease serving four airports. In June 2024, Elliott Investment Management , an activist investment fund, announced that it had bought $ 1.9 billion in Southwest stock and would seek to oust leadership at the carrier, arguing it had "failed to evolve" citing "leadership’s stubborn unwillingness to evolve
3604-547: The internal practice of ranking "employees first, customers second". Collective bargaining Southwest Airlines employees is represented by the Southwest Airlines Pilot Association union. Bob Jordan , formerly executive vice president of corporate services, became Southwest's sixth CEO on February 1, 2022, replacing Gary C. Kelly . Kelly continues as chairman of Southwest Airlines. Kelly replaced former CEO Jim Parker on July 15, 2004, and assumed
3672-520: The member is alive. It also adds more options to use points. The key trends for Southwest Airlines are (as of the financial year ending December 31): The Southwest Airlines headquarters are located on the grounds of Dallas Love Field in Dallas . Chris Sloan of Airways magazine stated they are "as much a living, breathing museum and showcase for the 'culture that LUV built' as they are corporate offices." On September 17, 2012, Southwest broke ground on
3740-461: The new pilot training facility. The LEAD Center has the capacity to house and support 18 flight simulators. It is designed to be expanded to accommodate up to 26 simulator bays. The building opened on April 3, 2018. On August 16, 2019, Southwest announced an expansion of the LEAD Center to accommodate eight additional simulators for future operational and training demands. On January 2, 2020, it
3808-442: The passengers into three groups, labeled A, B and C. Passengers would line up at their specified letter and board. In 2007, Southwest modified its boarding procedure by introducing a number. Each passenger receives a letter (A, B, or C) and a number 1 through 60. Passengers lineup in numerical order within each letter group and choose any open seat on the aircraft. A 2012 study on the television series MythBusters , found this to be
3876-409: The point that their actions, personalities, and even private lives function symbolically to represent significant dynamics and tensions prevalent in the contemporary business atmosphere". Journalism thereby exaggerates the importance of the CEO and tends to neglect harder-to-describe broader corporate factors. There is little attention to the intricately organized technical bureaucracy that actually does
3944-836: The role of the main manager of the organization and the highest-ranking officer in the C-suite . The term "chief executive officer" is attested as early as 1782, when an ordinance of the Congress of the Confederation of the United States of America used the term to refer to governors and other leaders of the executive branches of each of the Thirteen Colonies . In draft additions to the Oxford English Dictionary published online in 2011,
4012-409: The term "executive director" is used primarily in the not-for-profit sector. These terms are generally mutually exclusive and refer to distinct legal duties and responsibilities. The CEO is the highest-ranking executive in a company, making corporate decisions, managing operations, allocating resources, and serving as the main point of communication between the board of directors and the company. In
4080-521: The title of president on July 15, 2008, replacing former president Colleen Barrett . In July 2008, Herb Kelleher resigned from his position as chairman. Barrett left her post on the board of directors and as a corporate secretary in May 2008 and as president in July 2008. Kelleher was president and CEO of Southwest from September 1981 to June 2001. On June 23, 2021, Southwest announced that chairman and CEO Gary Kelly would transition roles in early 2022, becoming
4148-457: The work. Hubris sets in when the CEO internalizes the celebrity and becomes excessively self-confident in making complex decisions. There may be an emphasis on the sort of decisions that attract the celebrity journalists . Research published in 2009 by Ulrike Malmendier and Geoffrey Tate indicates that "firms with award-winning CEOs subsequently underperform, in terms both of stock and of operating performance". Executive compensation has been
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#17327717547534216-802: The workplace. This perspective is explored in the book Snakes in Suits , co-authored by Robert D. Hare . However, Scott Lilienfeld has argued that the attention given to psychopathy in the workplace by both the media and scholars has far exceeded the available scientific evidence. Emilia Bunea, writing in Psychology Today , has linked psychopathic traits in managers to workplace bullying , employee dissatisfaction, and turnover intentions. Despite this, Bunea cautions that excessive worry about supposed psychopathic managers could discourage individuals from pursuing careers in corporations and deter employees from addressing issues with difficult bosses. In
4284-472: The world based on passengers flown. The airline was established on March 9, 1967, by Herb Kelleher and Rollin King as Air Southwest Co. and adopted its current name, Southwest Airlines Co., in 1971, when it began operating as an intrastate airline wholly within the state of Texas, first flying between Dallas, Houston , and San Antonio . It began regional interstate service in 1979, expanding nationwide in
4352-591: The world. No passenger has died as a result of a crash. On June 22, 2011, a March 25 recording was released to the press of an apparently inadvertent in-flight radio transmission of Southwest captain James Taylor conversing with his first officer. The conversation was peppered with obscenities directed at gay, overweight, and older flight attendants. According to Southwest, the pilot was reprimanded and temporarily suspended without pay and received diversity education before being reinstated. On September 26, 2017,
4420-434: Was announced that Southwest would be purchasing an additional 3 acres (1.2 ha) of land adjacent to its Wings and LEAD facilities. No additional details were disclosed. As of June 30, 2022, Southwest Airlines had 62,333 active full-time equivalent employees. According to The Washington Post , it uses the hiring motto of seeking people that have a "Servant's Heart, Warrior Spirit, Fun-LUVing Attitude". It also uses
4488-412: Was both companies having use of the trademark. Southwest has had eleven accidents, including three aircraft hull losses and four deaths: one accidental passenger death in flight, two non-passenger deaths on the ground, and one passenger death from injuries he sustained when subdued by other passengers while attempting to break into the cockpit of an aircraft. The airline is considered among the safest in
4556-471: Was completed in late 2013, with occupancy beginning in 2014. On June 2, 2016, Southwest broke ground on its new office and training facility known as Wings. The newest addition to the corporate campus is composed of a 420,000-square-foot, six-story office building, and a 380,000-square-foot adjoining structure called the Leadership Education and Aircrew Development (LEAD) Center that serves as
4624-448: Was founded in 1966 by Herbert Kelleher and Rollin King , and incorporated as Air Southwest Co. in 1967. Three other airlines (Braniff, Trans-Texas Airways , and Continental Airlines ) took legal action to try to prevent the company from its planned strategy of undercutting their prices by flying only within Texas and thus being exempt from regulation by the federal Civil Aeronautics Board . The lawsuits were resolved in 1970, and in 1971
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