About Southwest

Let the Summer Travel Season Begin

Like many of you, I love to travel. I suppose that’s a good thing, if not a requirement, as I’ve worked for Southwest Airlines for the past 26 years. I can still remember my first flight: It was back in 1972 and, yes, it was on Southwest! These days I’m on a Southwest plane at least twice a month, and I still get as excited to travel now as I did on that first flight.

When Southwest first took off, only 15 percent of Americans had ever flown on a commercial flight. Today, that number is well over 85 percent, and I’m proud of the role that Southwest has played in democratizing the skies. We acquired AirTran Airways last May, and, combined, we serve more than 100 million Customers a year, taking them to nearly 100 destinations.

I’m proud of the fact that Southwest carries more passengers in the domestic U.S. than any other airline. Read More

The Mission of Southwest Airlines

The mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and Company Spirit.

To Our Employees

We are committed to provide our Employees a stable work environment with equal opportunity for learning and personal growth. Creativity and innovation are encouraged for improving the effectiveness of Southwest Airlines. Above all, Employees will be provided the same concern, respect, and caring attitude within the organization that they are expected to share externally with every Southwest Customer.

January 1988

We Weren't Just Airborne Yesterday - Time flies when you're having fun!

More than 38 years ago, Rollin King and Herb Kelleher got together and decided to start a different kind of airline. They began with one simple notion: If you get your passengers to their destinations when they want to get there, on time, at the lowest possible fares, and make darn sure they have a good time doing it, people will fly your airline. And you know what? They were right.

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What's LUV?

Southwest has been in LUV with our Customers from the very beginning. Therefore, it's fitting that we began service to San Antonio and Houston from Love Field in Dallas on June 18, 1971. As our Company and Customers grew, our LUV grew too! With the prettiest Flight Attendants serving "Love Bites" on our planes, and determined Employees issuing tickets from our "Love Machines," we changed the face of the airline industry throughout the 1970s. Then in 1977, our stock was listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "LUV." Over the ensuing years, our LUV has spread from coast to coast and border to border thanks to our hardworking Employees and their LUV for Customer Service.

Our Commitments

We don't take our commitments lightly. We are dedicated to doing the right thing, we take great strides to ensure your safety, and fostering trusting relationships between our Employees, our Customer, our Suppliers, and our Planet.

Contract Of Carriage

Customer Service Commitment

Tarmac Delay Contingency Plan

Safety Commitment

Environmental Commitments

Procurement Policy

Supplier Diversity Program

For earlier versions of the Contract of Carriage, please contact us and specify the effective date you would like to receive.

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