Southwest Airlines Joins New Aviation Climate Taskforce
Media Release
DALLAS—Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) (the “Company”) today announced it has become a member of the Aviation Climate Taskforce (ACT), a new nonprofit founded with a goal to tackle the challenge of reducing carbon emissions in aviation.
“Sustainability is a priority for our business, and at Southwest, we take our dedication to environmental stewardship seriously,” said Bob Jordan, Executive Vice President and incoming CEO at Southwest Airlines. “We are honored to be a founding member of the Aviation Climate Taskforce and to collaborate with this innovative group on ways we can work toward decarbonizing aviation and advancing the critical science to support that objective.”
ACT has indicated it plans to focus on supporting breakthrough innovations in the aviation emerging technology space, including synthetic jet fuel and direct air capture technology. It has expressed plans to support the advancement of these and other technologies aimed at helping air carriers achieve carbon neutrality through an Innovation Network and Collaboration Forum.
Southwest’s participation in ACT complements Southwest’s stated 10 year plan to reduce carbon emissions intensity by at least 20 percent by 2030 and maintain carbon neutral growth every year through the end of the decade, as well as its stated long-term goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Additionally, the Company recently announced a one of a kind partnership with CHOOOSE™ that allows Customers to contribute funds for the purchase of carbon offsets for Southwest at southwest.com/wannaoffsetcarbon.
Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world and strives to maintain a steadfast focus on a triple bottom line: People, Performance, and Planet. Learn about Southwest’s citizenship efforts and how the carrier gives back to communities across the world by visiting Southwestonereport.com.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 51st year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with Customer Service delivered by approximately 54,000 Employees to a Customer base that topped 130 million Passengers in 2019. Southwest has a robust network of point-to-point service with a strong presence across top leisure and business markets. In peak travel seasons during 2019, Southwest operated more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 101 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries. In 2020, the carrier added service to Hilo, Hawaii; Cozumel, Mexico; Miami; Palm Springs, Calif.; Steamboat Springs; and Montrose (Telluride), Colo. Thus far in 2021, Southwest has initiated service to Chicago (O'Hare) and Sarasota/Bradenton both on Feb. 14; Savannah/Hilton Head and Colorado Springs both on March 11; Houston (Bush) and Santa Barbara, Calif. both on April 12; Fresno, Calif. on April 25; Destin/Fort Walton Beach on May 6; Myrtle Beach, S.C. on May 23; Bozeman, Mont. on May 27; Jackson, Miss. on June 6; and Eugene, Ore. on Aug. 29. The carrier will begin service to Bellingham, Wash. on Nov. 7; and Syracuse on Nov. 14.
The carrier issued its Southwest® Promise in May 2020 to highlight new and round-the-clock efforts to support its Customers and Employees well-being and comfort. Among the changes are enhanced cleaning efforts at airports and onboard aircraft, along with a federal mandate requiring every person to wear a mask at all times throughout each flight. Additional details about the Southwest Promise are available at Southwest.com/Promise.
Southwest coined Transfarency® to describe its purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free to everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in qualified circumstances). Southwest does not charge change fees, though fare differences might apply.
Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA®.
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