# Southwest Airlines

> Southwest Airlines is a Dallas-based passenger airline serving leisure and business travelers across the United States and nearby international markets. Its Boeing 737 fleet and emphasis on frequent nonstop service helped establish the low-cost airline model; assigned seating, paid extra legroom, checked-bag fees, and airline partnerships now broaden its commercial offering.

- **Founded:** 1967
- **Headquarters:** Dallas, United States
- **Founders:** Herb Kelleher (Co-founder; later Chairman and CEO), Rollin King (Co-founder)
- **Products:** Scheduled passenger flights, Assigned seating and Extra Legroom, Rapid Rewards, Southwest Business, Getaways by Southwest
- **Notable:** Began flying June 18, 1971, linking Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio., Developed the 10-minute turnaround in 1972 to preserve its schedule after reducing its fleet., Expanded beyond Texas to New Orleans in 1979 and began Southwest-branded international flying in 2014.

## Products & services

- **Scheduled passenger flights** — Domestic U.S. and nearby international passenger service using Boeing 737 aircraft.
- **Assigned seating and Extra Legroom** — Assigned seats became operational January 27, 2026, with Standard, Preferred, and Extra Legroom seat options.
- **Rapid Rewards** — Loyalty program with flight rewards, status benefits, and an eligible Companion Pass; terms and qualifying rules apply.
- **Southwest Business** — Corporate travel distribution and services for managed business travelers.
- **Getaways by Southwest** — In-house vacation packages bundling flights with hotels and optional cars.
- **Southwest Cargo** — Air cargo transportation alongside the passenger network.
- **Rapid Rewards co-branded credit cards** — Chase-issued cards connecting everyday spending with points and travel benefits.

## Achievements

- Began flying June 18, 1971, linking Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.
- Developed the 10-minute turnaround in 1972 to preserve its schedule after reducing its fleet.
- Expanded beyond Texas to New Orleans in 1979 and began Southwest-branded international flying in 2014.
- Reported US$8.4 billion in third-quarter 2026 operating revenue.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — October 21 results reported Q3 operating revenue of $8.4 billion and GAAP net income of $270 million. Full-year adjusted EPS guidance was $2.60-$2.85; fuel expense rose $821 million year over year.
- **2026-10** — Southwest announced a planned Icon Lounge network, with first guests expected in 2027; this is a future offering.
- **2026-10** — Icelandair announced expanded loyalty cooperation planned for spring 2027.
- **2026-01** — Assigned and extra-legroom seating became operational January 27.
- **2025-05** — Universal free checked bags ended for most new or changed bookings from May 28, with exceptions for qualifying fares, status, and cardholders.

## Links

- Website: https://www.southwest.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southwest-airlines/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/SouthwestAir
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAjsIzgAqJBC70wYt45cMYg
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southwestair/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthwestAir/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@southwestair

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/southwest-airlines
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22