southwest airlines headquarters tour

A behind-the-scenes look at Southwest's Dallas headquarters

Imagine walking into work on your first day only to receive a red-carpet welcome from your new colleagues who are all lined up in droves cheering you on.

While that may sound intimidating or perhaps out of place for an airline, of all companies, this red-carpet welcome is a regular affair at Southwest 's headquarters in Dallas . Each new class of employees is greeted in this same tradition, and it's become a rite of passage for all new hires.

Personally, I had no idea about this practice until I found myself in the middle of one on a recent morning. I was in Dallas during the last week of November for Southwest's media days, which are a series of meetings with executives and airline leaders to discuss the state of the airline.

While I've also shared a recap of what we learned , perhaps the most exciting part, especially for this aviation enthusiast, was getting a behind-the-scenes look inside Southwest's headquarters.

Now, you can, too.

An AvGeek's dream

From the moment you step inside, you'll quickly realize you've entered an airline's headquarters — there's a massive Boeing 737 hanging from the ceiling of the main entrance.

The plane sports Southwest's updated livery and greets you as you find your way through the building.

Turning left brings you to the Southwest store, which is stocked with branded apparel, bags, mugs and plenty of other swag. (New joiners will want to look out for a 20% coupon that's included in the employee welcome package.)

Once you clear building security, you're free to move about. Lining the halls are inspirational messages, a treasure trove of Southwest collectibles, engine cowlings and even some spare airplane seats.

In fact, the Boeing 737 engine that's built into the wall reminded me of a similar design I recently saw at United's headquarters in Chicago .

Throughout the building, you'll find nods to Southwest's past, including pictures of founder Herb Kelleher and chairman Gary Kelly, detailed timelines of the airline's 51-year history and old marketing materials.

The airline even has a dedicated culture and archive center located on campus that has an exact replica of Kelleher's office, as well as a speaker that lets you listen to three different versions of Kelleher's laugh.

You'll find a pair of the original "hot pants" worn by Southwest flight attendants (or "hostesses," as they were referred to back when the airline started flying in 1971), too.

No matter where you turn, you're bound to discover an interesting nugget about Southwest.

An airport on the ground

When airport agents begin their careers with Southwest, they descend on the airline's Dallas headquarters for a training course. During that time, the up-and-coming agents spend time in the classroom learning about the airline's culture and familiarizing themselves with their new responsibilities.

Before they graduate, they need to put their learning into practice. While they could theoretically head to nearby Dallas Love Field (DAL), which is located just a stone's throw away, Southwest has a mock-up of a check-in lobby on-site.

Here, check-in agents learn more about how to operate the kiosks, weigh checked bags and use the airline's reservations systems.

Gate agents are also trained on campus, and there's an exact replica of a gate area on the second floor of the training building. If you close your eyes, you might imagine yourself in an airport — the seats and the boarding stanchions are exactly the same as the ones you'd find at a Southwest gate.

There's even a functioning PA system to help employees learn how to modulate their voices when welcoming the A, B and C boarding groups.

Learning inflight service

Flight attendants also spend time at Southwest's headquarters before they earn their wings.

They begin their training in the classroom with presentations detailing all the ins and outs of the Boeing 737. They'll learn about providing efficient and personalized service, handling security issues and evacuating a plane during an emergency.

After weeks behind a desk, the flight attendants practice inflight service in a specially configured Boeing 737 cabin experience trainer.

This is essentially a cross-section of an airplane with the windows removed for easy viewing from the outside. There are large TVs hanging above the plane that provide a livestream of what's happening inside for the observers to see.

The cabin itself comes from a retired Southwest jet, and it still features the original seats and overhead bins.

This trainer is the perfect way for flight attendants to get some hands-on experience without taking a fully functioning plane out of service.

In case of emergency

In addition to service delivery, flight attendants need to learn how to handle inflight emergencies, and Southwest has an area at its headquarters dedicated to just that.

This emergency preparedness center is outfitted with another cross-section of a plane, but this one can simulate many types of inflight emergencies ranging from fires to water landings to smoke in the cabin.

There's even a slide connected to this plane, which helps flight attendants practice evacuating the aircraft.

You'll find plenty of other emergency equipment here, including life rafts, exit door trainers and life vests.

Pilot training

Pilots have a rigorous training schedule. They not only need to learn about how a plane operates, but they also need to regularly spend time in aircraft simulators learning how to fly in all conditions, including during emergencies.

While simulators cost millions of dollars, Southwest has invested in a whopping 26 of them for its all-Boeing 737 fleet.

These machines are exact replicas of a real 737 cockpit, and nearly every type of emergency or weather situation can be simulated during training.

Southwest operates these simulators around the clock beginning at around 6 a.m. each day and going until 3 a.m. in some cases.

Controlling the airline

With more than 4,000 daily flights, Southwest is one of the largest U.S. airlines.

While it takes tens of thousands of employees to run the operation, perhaps none are as important as the 1,000 who oversee the entire network.

These employees sit in the NOC, or network operations control center, which is essentially the central nervous system for the entire airline. Here, flights are dispatched and tracked, weather systems are monitored, technical malfunctions are addressed and more. The airline even has a minimum of two meteorologists working at any time to forecast weather across the network.

This building on Southwest's campus is so important that its walls are thick enough to withstand an F3 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. In other words, it's built to withstand winds blowing up to 206 mph.

A variety of department leaders sit in the NOC, ranging from the chief pilot to the chief flight attendant to the head of ground operations and the leader of technical operations. These key stakeholders meet three times a day — at 8:30 a.m., 3:15 p.m. and 8 p.m. — in the so-called situation room to discuss the state of the operation, with a focus on the airline's 15 largest airports.

When things are running smoothly, these meetings can take just a few minutes, but when there are weather systems across the country or air traffic control delays in key hubs, they might run overtime.

Hopefully, the next time you fly with Southwest, it'll be on a day when things are running smoothly in the NOC. If they are, there's a good chance that your flight will operate on time.

Southwest Airlines shows off its unique history and company culture with its corporate office — see inside the company's Texas headquarters

• Southwest Airlines displays its history and company culture in its corporate office in Dallas, Texas.
• The company's headquarters feature murals, unique lounges, model aircraft, and old flight attendant uniforms.
• Employees can watch Southwest aircraft take off and land from its deck overlooking Dallas Love Field Airport.

Southwest Airlines turned 50 this year, and its long history of humor, hot pants, and unique marketing campaigns has made it a favorite among both leisure and business travelers.

Source: Southwest Airlines

To celebrate its history, the airline has taken blips of its past and important aspects of its culture and displayed it throughout its corporate headquarters in Dallas, Texas.

The company has walls lined with photos of special events, murals highlighting important people and moments, and dozens of other small tidbits that tell the company's story.

Part of Southwest's interior was envisioned by architecture and design firm Corgan, which worked with over 1,000 employees to choose furniture and create area mock-ups. The result was a vibrant decor that maximized building density without sacrificing the company's employee-focused culture.

Source: Corgan ,  Southwest Airlines

One of the building's biggest displays is the fleet of model aircraft hanging from the ceiling of its main lobby. The planes include the company's original Desert Gold livery, its new Canyon Blue paint scheme, and a slew of its specialty state flag liveries.

Throughout the company's five buildings, memorable photos and memorabilia cover the walls, like Southwest's old Heart logo...

A framed display of nearly 30 heart-shaped bag tags from the 70s...

A collection of pins from Southwest pilots' former employers...

And its "50 Years of LUV" logo.

The buildings also house dozens of conference rooms with unique names that recognize popular Southwest destinations, people, values, and events, like The Winning Spirit.

Southwest headquarters overlooks the runway at Dallas Love Field Airport, giving employees the unique opportunity to watch aircraft take off and land from the company's outdoor sitting area, The Deck.

The buildings have a handful of employee lounge areas, known as "Culture Centers" that feature unique wall murals and interesting decor, like old cabin seats.

Centers are also themed with fun names, like "Observe, Listen, Learn..."

"Go. See. Do..."

"The Attic..."

And "Nuts and Bolts."

Southwest's Training and Operational Support building, which is home to its training and dispatch centers, features photos from the airline's Triple Crown One aircraft that debuted in 1997. Also on display are the overhead bins from the plane's cabin.

Triple Crown One was painted to honor the workers who helped Southwest receive five consecutive "Triple Crowns" for on-time performance, baggage handling, and customer service based on DOT data from 1992 to 1996. Each of the 24,113 employee names were etched into the overhead bins that are now on display at headquarters.

In 2015, the airline recreated the legendary plane with the original Triple Crown livery and the company's new color scheme on the tail.

Also in the TOPS building, which was designed by BOKA Powell, is a giant Southwest model aircraft in the lobby...

Source: BOKA Powell , Southwest Airlines

A life-size aircraft cabin where flight attendants train...

An emergency evacuation training center...

The Network Operations Center where dispatchers and crew schedulers work...

A large food court with a number of dining options, like soups, sandwiches, pizza, and a made-to-order grille...

And a realistic airport experience, which includes a ticket counter, gate area, emergency evacuation center, baggage services office, and jet bridge.

Southwest's corporate buildings have a handful of beautiful murals that tell the story of its people and culture, including information on its founders Herb Kelleher and Rollin King...

Early flight attendants posing with passengers...

A button that sounds Southwest founder Herb Kelleher's laugh...

A tribute to Kelleher's infamous Malice in Dallas arm-wrestling match...

A reminder of the airline's purpose...

And a dedication to Southwest President Emerita Colleen Barrett, who was an influential figure in creating the company's culture and shaping its renowned "Servant's Heart" customer service strategy.

Small relics of Southwest's history are also on display, like mannequins of old flight attendant and pilot uniforms...

And a piece of the retired Lone Star One aircraft.

Source: Southwest Airlines , Southwest Airlines

Lone Star One debuted in 1990 and was the first of many flagship aircraft Southwest created to honor the states it serves.

The company's new Lone Star One was unveiled in 2016.

Also along the walls of Southwest headquarters are unique photo ops for employees, like an aircraft nose...

An engine...

And a flight deck.

Southwest prides itself on its eccentric Halloween costumes worn by Southwest's infamous leaders, like Herb Kelleher, Colleen Barrett, and Gary Kelly.

Southwest executives contribute to the company culture by participating in the annual holiday celebration.

• Main content

Checking out Southwest’s Culture-Centric HQ

By jl johnson.

Large models illustrating Southwest’s special liveries hang in the atrium of the company’s HQ

For years I have connected at Dallas Love Field and peered across the aircraft operations area, staring at the home of Southwest Airlines, hoping to one day visit LUV HQ. In the effort of transparency, I’ve made little attempt to conceal my preference for the airline, and we’ll discuss why I think that they’re the best in a bit. But here’s a hint: It’s the culture.

I have a hand-full of friends who work for Southwest and follow a bunch of their employees on Instagram who occasionally post photos from the inside. My desire for a visit intensified when I became aware that the company had recently opened a large addition to their Dallas footprint, just across the street from their long-standing centralized DAL-based HQ. The building, affectionately known as TOPS (for Training and Operations Support), drastically expands the company’s capabilities and makes room for employees of the largest domestic airline to spread their wings.

Southwest Airlines tail – Photo: David Parker Brown

After 12 years in corporate America, I have become a self-described boring, stodgy, business-type guy. I think that’s one of the reasons I am so attracted to Southwest’s  culture .  Because, it’s tough to not have a fun time around people who clearly enjoy their careers and are vested in the mission of their company.

On a recent late-night flight, an attendant came over the intercom to tell us they were turning down the lights and that we were welcome to turn on our overhead lighting. “If you want, push the button with a picture of a light bulb on it.” She continued, “However, pushing the button with the picture of a flight attendant on it will not turn on the flight attendant.”

It was late, we were all tired, and I think it’s fair to say the cabin had let their guard down. This unexpected bit of humor solicited a chuckle from me and a large portion of my 737-trekking peers. It’s these small, unexpected, fun experiences after a long draining day of meetings, charts, and presentations that I have come to rely upon as a part of my decompression ritual.

Southwest’s pop-up Irish pub on the roof: Herbert D O’Kelleher

Humor is a big part of Southwest’s culture. In fact, I’m told that the company tests for a sense of humor when interviewing prospective employees with questions like, ’œHow did you use humor to extricate yourself from an embarrassing situation?’

A lot has gone into the development and maintenance of Southwest’s culture, which stands out in stark contrast with the culture of its peers and, quite honestly, most other Fortune 500s.

I arrived at the gates of 2702 Love Field Drive on a Friday morning, eager to get the day started. In fact, I was so looking forward to the visit that I had forgotten to print off my access paperwork to provide to the security guard at the main entrance. The guard gave me a funny look when I told her I had the documents in my email and tried to hand her my phone. We had a playful back and forth while she looked up my appointment and got me cleared.

My first encounter on-site that day was one that, at my own fault, could have been negative. Yet the guard turned it around with a bright smile as she gave me a hard time for being “difficult on a Friday morning.” The exchange set the tone for the rest of an incredible day.

As I waited for my host in the lobby, I took the opportunity to look around. This place was different than most corporate HQs I’d visited. Plane models hung from the ceiling basking in natural light. The walls were adorned with quotes from executives, awards, photos, and other decorations. This was a theme that carried throughout the visit. Barren walls simply don’t exist at the Southwest Airlines HQ. Even in active construction areas the walls did their part in promoting the culture, educating and enriching those who took the time to to absorb their content.

The tour of the original HQ building was short because much of it was going through an extensive renovation. Of note, however, was the company’s rooftop observation deck. Here employees come to enjoy a meal, have a meeting, do some plane spotting, or, on select evenings, even enjoy an adult beverage. Unfortunately, at the time of my tour the runway closest to the deck was closed for maintenance, so no cool photos of Canyon Blue-liveried red-bellies landing just a few hundred feet to the east.

Southwest also places a great deal of emphasis on development of internal talent. In fact, employees are encouraged to participate in free on-site continued education at “University for People”, an extension of Southwest’s training department, where in many cases employees can earn career-advancing skills and even college credit on company time.

Culture Center: A break room on steroids

On the way out of the building, we passed through an interesting open-concept sort of multi-purpose area which I would later learn Southwest refers to as a “Culture Center.” Essentially, a break room on steroids, which is built around a theme. The photo above doesn’t do the concept justice. In fact, the centers are so large that one would be hard-pressed to represent one without a dozen or so photos.

Company spokesperson Dan Landson on the concept: “With the new Culture Centers, we’re able to celebrate the Southwest Airlines brand in a way that’s truly unique. Within each Culture Center, you’ll find more collaborative working space, more open space to take a quick break from your work, and also memorabilia and other items that celebrate one or more of the Company’s values, and corporate milestones.”

A large-scale model of Warrior One, Southwest’s first 737-800, hangs from the ceiling of TOPS

Training and operations support (TOPS)

A quick walk across Denton Drive and the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) tracks, and we’d arrived at the crown jewel of Southwest’s campus – the $120 million, 492,000 square-foot building known as TOPS. Much like the other building, the lobby is filled with natural lighting, art, and models that illustrate that which is Southwest.

In this building, however, they take a different approach to models. Rather than hang a dozen or so special-liveried birds, here visitors are greeted by a giant 737-800 model. To say the model is huge would be a disservice.

Southwest’s Vision

Across from each set of elevator banks are employee kiosks with large reminders of the companies vision, mission, and values; the foundations for culture. In fact, these are found throughout the building, and for good reason.

The vast majority of new hires must at some point make the trip to Dallas for training, orientation, or more likely a combination of both. During that finite time the company has a prime opportunity to infuse their people with those values they hold dearest through messaging and demonstration of those principals.

Southwest’s Values

As a self-identified social media (SM) addict, frequent Southwest flyer, and proud A-Lister, I interact with the Southwest SM team often and was excited to meet the crew. While I was chatting with the team in their glass-walled “listening room” (Southwest speak for Social Media office) two familiar faces appeared: Herb Kelleher and Colleen Barrett . Now, if you aren’t familiar with Southwest you may not recognize the names.

Southwest’s mission

These are the two prior leaders of the company immediately before the current, Gary Kelly. The two leisurely strolled up the hall, Herb smiling, waving at passers by, and Colleen happily distributing hugs as they made their way to what I later learned to be the offices of President Emeritus. There, in their retirement years, they continue to contribute to the success of company, mostly focused on culture initiatives.

The Southwest NOC, or Network Operations Center

Network Operations Center (NOC)

Inside a hardened shell able to withstand the brute force of an EF-3 tornado, the 24/7 Network Operations Center is the nerve center of the airline. Here, planes are routed, equipment is swapped, and incidents are managed in real time. On this day, weather was fair across the network, so it was generally quiet. During irregular operations (IROPS), the 400-seat NOC buzzes with employees managing the largest domestic airline.

The colored dim light is designed to reduce eye fatigue and stress for employees staring at multiple monitors.  Desks come in various configurations, based on role, but a station with 5-7 monitors is not uncommon.

Mock ticketing counter. Looks real to me!

“The Airport Experience”

To provide employees with a true, representative experience of what it’s like to work inside an airport, Southwest has built a near-perfect mock-up terminal within TOPS which they call “the airport experience.” Complete with a ticketing counter, gate area, baggage office, and jet bridge, there’s really something for everyone.

Mock gate area,with ample seating!

Trainees rotate through stations experiencing real-life scenarios in an environment very similar to what they have at their home airports.

Fully-functional mock counter. The 1:20 flight to RDU is on time!

I have long wondered what role a centralized HQ and training center could contribute to culture. After having the opportunity to visit, it has become quite clear that this is one of the many tools in the Southwest culture toolbox that works so well for them.

Along those lines, other airlines could learn a thing or two from Southwest about culture infusion and culture-centric decor. I’ve visited far too many airline facilities whose office halls are no different than one would expect at any other company: boring, uninspired, and a lost opportunity.

Living our legacy: Serving wholeheartedly

Southwest has long been known for being a maverick and doing things their own way. Who would think something as simple as taking advantage of otherwise boring walls could be so innovative and reinforcing of company values?

As a Southwest fan, this was an awesome experience for me.  Getting to see where the magic happens was something I wish you could have been there for – this story will have to do.

Managing Correspondent - Lee's Summit, MO. JL joined AirlineReporter in 2012 and has since become one of our most tenured and prolific writers. He enjoys catalyzing AvGeek excitement in others, and semi-frequent travel. While he's always looking for the next big adventure, home is with his growing AvGeek family in Lee's Summit, MO, a suburb of Kansas City. Find JL on Mastodon Email: [email protected]

My favorite was on a OAK to LAX flight, the flight attendant said that their featured in flight movie was “gone out the window.” Which made me chuckle!

As a longtime SWA employee, I really enjoy getting an outsider’s perspective of our unique HDQ. It is truly special and I am not one of those who work in those buildings, but at a busy airport.

Very interesting and informative piece with excellent accompanying photos! Keep those articles coming JL…

As an employee who has worked for almost 2 decades at Southwest’s HQ, I appreciate your story about our wonderful company. We’ve experienced a lot of change at Southwest over the years, and yet the company still makes our Culture a high priority. How many companies have an entire Culture Services department as well as a Culture Committee comprised of employees from every station in our network? I’m also thrilled about the TOPS Building, both for our Operations employees, and our frontline employees from our nationwide stations, who have the opportunity to experience state of the art training and development at TOPS. Our focus on Customer Service and making a difference is an innate part of our Culture.

Oh please……., Southwest is just too “over the top”…….They have now become like every other airline with labor strife, union issues, late flights and poor on-time departures and arrivals, and fares as high or higher than the rest. I have friends and relatives who work for Southwest and believe me, they have not fallen for all this “culture” psychobabel. They laugh at what a “religious” experience it is….made up of brainwashed coworkers and management that just loves to walk people off – you never “hear” about those things.

LUV is my favorite airline. SW is over the top and is going to stay there. Their service is above all others. Better than putting up with all those mad as hell stewardesses and some stewards on the other airline. Everyone at LUV is pleasant. More than can be said for all of the other U.S. airlines.

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Southwest Corporate Fact Sheet

Click here to download a PDF version of the Corporate Fact Sheet

Executive Leadership:

Gary Kelly , Executive Chairman of the Board Bob Jordan , President & Chief Executive Officer     Andrew Watterson , Chief Operating Officer Ryan Green , Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer Tammy Romo , Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Linda Rutherford , Chief Administration Officer Mark Shaw , Executive Vice President, Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer Justin Jones , Executive Vice President Operations

Back to Top

Headquarters:

P.O. Box 36611 2702 Love Field Drive Dallas, TX 75235

About the Company:

Southwest Airlines Co. operates one of the world's most admired and awarded airlines, offering its one-of-a-kind value and Hospitality at 121 airports across 11 countries. Southwest took flight in 1971 to democratize the sky through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel and now carries more air travelers flying nonstop within the United States than any other airline 1 . Based in Dallas and famous for an Employee-first corporate Culture, Southwest maintains an unprecedented record of no involuntary furloughs or layoffs in its history. By empowering its nearly 75,000 2  People to deliver unparalleled Hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a passionate loyalty among more than 137 million Customers carried in 2023. That formula for success brought industry-leading prosperity and 47 consecutive years 3  of profitability for Southwest Shareholders (NYSE: LUV). Southwest leverages a unique legacy and mission to serve communities around the world including harnessing the power of its People and Purpose to put communities at the Heart of its success.  Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship . As the airline with Heart, Southwest has set a goal to work toward achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Southwest has also set near-term targets and a three pillar strategy to achieve its environmental goals. Learn more by visiting  Southwest.com/planet .

Southwest Airlines® originally was incorporated in Texas in 1967 and commenced Customer Service on June 18, 1971, with three Boeing 737 aircraft serving three Texas cities—Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio—and grew to become a major airline in 1989 when it exceeded the billion-dollar revenue mark. In 1994, Southwest became the first major airline to offer ticketless travel. In 1995, Southwest became the first major airline to post a website with the launch of our "Home Gate." Southwest topped the monthly domestic originating passenger rankings for the first time in May 2003. In 2013, Southwest started its Southwest service to a destination outside the 48 contiguous states with service to Puerto Rico. In July 2014, Southwest became an international airline with its first flights to Nassau, Bahamas; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Aruba. In March 2019, Southwest began serving the Hawaiian Islands.

Daily Departures:

Southwest Airlines operates more than 4,000 flights a day during peak travel periods.

Nearly 75,000 2   People work to deliver exemplary Customer Service throughout the Southwest system.

Common stock is traded under the symbol "LUV" on the NYSE. Southwest paid its first quarterly dividend in fourth quarter 1976. In December 2022, the Company reinstated quarterly cash dividends.

Annual 2023 Financial and Operating Statistics:

• Net income: $465 million
• Revenue passengers carried: 137.3 million 
• Revenue passenger miles:: 136.3 billion
• Load factor: 4 80.0%
• Annual record total operating revenues: $26.1 billion

As of December 31, 2023, Southwest had 817 Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet:

• The Company's fleet has an average age of approximately 11 years.
• In 2023, the Company's average aircraft trip length was 730 miles with an average duration of approximately two hours.
• Southwest was the launch customer for the Boeing 737-700 in 1997. Southwest also was a launch customer for the Boeing 737-500 and 737-300 series aircraft. And, in December 2011, Southwest announced it would be the launch customer for the Boeing 737 MAX 8.
• On Oct. 1, 2017, Southwest's first 737 MAX 8 began scheduled service.
• • In May 2022, Southwest announced its $2 billion plan to transform its Customer Experience. The carrier is incorporating in-seat power on new aircraft with USB-A and USB-C ports in each seatback using a zone-based power system that saves space and does not compromise legroom. In addition, the carrier is adding larger overhead bins already been received from Boeing, and will continue to be installed on future aircraft deliveries.
• All of Southwest's 737-800s are equipped with Split Scimitar Winglets, and the Company has replaced the Blended Winglets with Split Scimitar Winglets on some of its 737-700s. The Split Scimitar Winglet adds new strengthened stringers at the wing, aerodynamic scimitar tips, and a large ventral strake to the existing Blended Winglet while also providing additional incremental fuel savings beyond the approximate 3.5 percent per aircraft from Blended Winglets. According to Boeing, the 737 MAX8 is approximately 14% more fuel-efficient than the prior generation 737-800.  
• In 2013, Southwest became the first carrier to offer gate-to-gate connectivity. Customers may use small portable electronic devices (PEDs) in "airplane mode" from gate-to-gate on WiFi-enabled aircraft.
• On WiFi-enabled aircraft, Customers are able to enjoy free movies, 5 free live TV, 6 and free messaging7 on mobile devices, tablets, or laptops. Customers can access inflight WiFi for $8 from takeoff to landing per device on WiFi-enabled aircraft. 8

CITIES SERVED AS OF January 26, 2024:

Southwest serves 121 destinations across the United States and 10 additional countries.

Download the current System Map . Download City Fact Sheets .

• Southwest Airlines Customer Representatives transitioned to operating 100% remotely as of Sept. 1, 2022. Customer Service Representatives support Customers via phone, chat, and email. Evolving to a fully remote workforce brings increased flexibility, both in attracting and hiring new Employees from across the country, and in scheduling current Employees who provide next-level Hospitality to our Customers.

IN 2023, SOUTHWEST:

• Carried more than 137 million revenue Customers.
• Received 542,862 applications and hired 15,276 Employees.
• Served an estimated 107 million bags of snack mix.
• Moved more than 151 million pounds of cargo.

Southwest.com , mobile web, iOS, and Android apps:

• Southwest was the first airline to establish a home page on the Internet. Initially, five Employees comprised Southwest's web site development Team, and the site took about nine months to create.
• The "Low Fare Calendar" feature on Southwest.com is the first online tool that helps Customers find the lowest fare based on availability across an entire month.
• In 2018, a new site search tool was added to Southwest.com to help Customers find the right content as well as better highlight Customer generated content from the Southwest Community and social media. Rapid Rewards™ Enrollment forms were updated with a modern look and feel to ease the enrollment process.
• Southwest launched new versions of both the SouthwestIOS and Android and Southwest mobile website in 2016. In October 2018, Southwest released its first iPad app. 2018 was a year filled with enhancements, which included the addition of international booking, check-in and change, an improved multi-passenger boarding experience, more intuitive trip cards, Google Pay enabled mobile boarding passes for Android users, a mobile standby list, and ride-sharing with a partnership with Lyft. Customers are also now able to sign up for the Southwest Rapid Rewards™ Credit Card in mobile while making a booking.
• In addition to being able to book and manage domestic and international flights, Customers are able to make hotel, and complete vacation package reservations on Southwest.com , and make car reservations on Southwest.com ,  mobile web ,  iOS,  and  Android apps .

Distinctions:

• Southwest was first in the industry to offer ProfitSharing.
• Southwest has an industry-leading balance sheet and investment-grade ratings from all three credit rating agencies.
• Southwest has the largest Boeing fleet in the world. 
• Based on the latest data available from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Southwest is America's largest domestic airline in terms of domestic originating passengers with 22% market share. 9
• From 1973 to 2019, Southwest was the only domestic airline with 47 consecutive years of profitability.

Recognitions:

• Learn more about the Company's awards and recognitions .

1. Based on U.S. Dept. of Transportation quarterly Airline Origin & Destination Survey since Q1 2021      2. Fulltime-equivalent active Employees        3. 1973-2019 annual profitability      4. Revenue passenger miles divided by available seat miles. 5. Where available. Available only on WiFi-enabled aircraft. Limited-time offer. 6. Due to licensing restrictions, on WiFi-enabled international flights, free live TV and iHeartRadio may not be available for the full duration of flight. 7. Texting only allows access to iMessage and WhatsApp (which must be downloaded and activated before connecting to SouthwestWiFi). 8. Internet access for $8 per device from takeoff to landing. Price is subject to change. May not be available for the full duration of flight. In order to provide a top-notch Internet experience, we prohibit access to certain high-bandwidth applications and websites. We also prohibit access to certain obscene or offensive content. 9. Data presented herein as measured by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) O&D Survey for the twelve months ended Dec. 31, 2022 based on domestic originating passengers boarded. O&D stands for Origin and Destination.

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Contacting Southwest Airlines Headquarters

Southwest Airlines is a commercial airline. The airline services customers flying in most major airports in the United States.

Southwest Airlines Headquarters Info

The corporate office for Southwest Airlines headquarters is located in Dallas, TX. There is a contact address on the official website. We located the corporate address on their Investor Relations website [+] , as well as, a contact phone number. No email address is listed for the headquarters.

• Address: You can choose to write directly to the corporate office or use the customer service mailing address.

Southwest Airlines Headquarters 2702 Love Field Dr. Dallas, TX 75235

Southwest Airlines P.O. Box 36647-1CR Dallas, TX 75235

Southwest Airlines Co. Investor Relations, HDQ-6IR P.O. Box 36611 Dallas, Texas 75235

• Phone Number: Call 1-214-792-4000 to reach Southwest Airlines corporate office.
• Email: There is no email address listed for Southwest Airlines headquarters.
• Website: The official website for Southwest Airlines [+] is the investor relations side of the main retail website.

Southwest Airlines Headquarters Executive Team

There is an executive team and Board of Directors working at Southwest Airlines headquarters.

Executive Officers [+]

Gary C. Kelly – Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer Tom Nealon – President Michael G. Van de Ven – Chief Operating Officer Robert E. Jordan – Executive Vice President of Corporate Services Tammy Romo – Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Mark R. Shaw – Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer Andrew Watterson – Executive Vice President & Chief Revenue Officer Greg Wells – Executive Vice President Daily Operations

Board of Directors [+]

David W. Biegler J. Veronica Biggins Douglas H. Brooks William H. Cunningham, PhD, Lead Director John G. Denison Thomas W. Gilligan, PhD Gary C. Kelly, Chairman of the Board Grace D. Lieblein Nancy B. Loeffler John T. Montford, J.D. Ron Ricks, Vice Chairman of the Board

Southwest Airlines Headquarters Brands

Southwest headquarters is not associated with any private brands.

Resource Links

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Gallery: Southwest's Headquarters & History

Southwest Airlines main corporate headquarters building on the company’s campus near Dallas Love Field is named after co-founder and former Chief Executive Herb Kelleher.  

Visitors to Southwest’s corporate headquarters are greeted with a sky-full of 737s suspended from the ceiling. The large-scale models commemorate current and past liveries from the original desert gold, canyon blue, and current Heart schemes. Many of the company’s famous logojets are on display going back to the original Shamu from 1988.  

A model of one of Southwest’s original Boeing 737-200s in the company’s first paint scheme “Desert Gold” from the 1971 launch is preserved in the archives. Today, this livery is only preserved on the special Herb Kelleher christened 737 MAX-8 retrojet.  

A collection of Southwest memorabilia culled from the company’s archives including: the first inflight magazines from 1971, the love potions drink menus, a pilot’s hat, and the ice decanter gift offered to customers during the infamous “$13 Fare War” with Braniff in 1973. Southwest responded by offering a base $13 fare or a full fare ticket for $26 that included a bottle of premium liquor or this decanter.   

Southwest’s Listening Center, opened in 2014, serves as a nerve center, integrating traditional media, social media, and operational data to allow various functions to move quickly and efficiently from insights to action. The Listening Center is staffed seven days a week with employees from customer relations, communication and marketing departments.   

The office of Colleen Barrett, Southwest’s former president/COO is preserved behind glass next to Herb Kelleher’s office. The office is still powered up ready for when Barrett returns. She last visited prior to covid. Barrett became the first and only female president of an airline when she ascended to the role in 2001. Beginning as Herb Kelleher’s legal secretary, she is considered the mother of Southwest and still serves as President Emerita.    

A model of a ValuJet Douglas DC-9 in the “Critter” livery, next to a Boeing 717. ValuJet acquired Air Tran in 1997 and took the latter’s brand. The model of the Southwest 717-200 is rare. These aircraft were acquired during the 2010 acquisition of Air Tran but never operated under Southwest colors, and instead were leased to Delta Air Lines beginning a decade ago.  

AirTran memorabilia is preserved in Southwest’s archive, including models of AirTran’s final fleet of 737-700s and 717-200s. Southwest completed its integration of AirTran, with the merging into a single AOC in December 2014.   

Southwest’s corporate headquarters is literally a museum dedicated to celebrating the company’s heritage and its Warrior Spirit. It is populated with a series of culture centers, such as this one saluting the airline’s legendary co-founder Herb Kelleher.  

Southwest Airlines welcome new team-members with boisterous red carpet rallies, replete with cheers and dance music. During press day in 2022, the media were rousted with an 8 a.m. surprise wake-up party!  

Southwest Airlines’ love of celebrating its culture is curated in an extensive archive. This treasure trove of memorabilia includes displays like this featuring original flight attendants on the ramp in the 1970s hot pants uniforms, Former chief executive Lamar Muse’s newspaper ad during the 1973 “$13 fare war”, and various bumper stickers and buttons.  

Southwest’s corporate historian Dick West shows off the centerpiece exhibit, Herb Kelleher’s office. The day after the former CEO died in 2019, West’s team took detailed photos of the office just as Kelleher had left it. It was then moved 25 feet from its original location and put back just as it was so it could be on display behind glass. Prized objects include the first operating certificate from the Texas Aeronautics Commission, a bottle of Wild Turkey, and a drawer full of lighters (including one from Airbus).  

Fuselage panels from “The Herb Kelleher,” a Boeing 737-700 registered as N711HK that was broken up in May 2022 are preserved on the wall. Herb’s namesake ship is now a newly delivered Boeing 737 MAX-8.  

This life-sized plush toy mascot was a fixture at inaugurals throughout the system for many years through the early 2000s until the then new Canyon Blue livery arrived.  

Colleen Barrett’s portraits of Herb hang in her preserved office. Barrett got a job as a legal secretary working for Herb when he was a young lawyer in San Antonio, Texas. She grew to play a pivotal role in keeping Kelleher organized, setting him up for his eventual success. They became an inseparable team for 51 years.  

Southwest’s ‘70s Salute table in the corporate archives reflects a very different era in fashion and branding, plus a photo of co-founders Herb Kelleher and Rollin King in front of the latter’s namesake 737.  

A model of a TranStar MD-80 rests in the Southwest corporate archives. Southwest bought out former SW President Lamar Muse’s namesake rival airline, Muse Air in 1985. Southwest originally scrubbed the Muse branding, rechristening the airline as TranStar and introduced a longer-haul network across the U.S. sunbelt. TranStar was extinguished in 1987.  

Two generation of Southwest seats, including the Canyon Blue cabin from 2001, guard the entrance to the airline’s massive corporate archive. This place is an AvGeek’s paradise!  

Southwest was one of the first airlines with an internet presence. This is the actual PC that hosted the first airline’s first website in 1995. It is flanked by an early reservation system, based on Braniff’s Cowboy CRS, and the airline’s signature unassigned seat boarding passes that soldiered on well until the 2000s until the arrival of the digital app.  

ATW Contributing Editor Chris Sloan had a chance to tour Southwest Airlines' main corporate headquarters near Dallas Love Field. Here are some photos from his visit.

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163 Southwest Airlines Headquarters Photos & High-Res Pictures

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Where Is Southwest Airlines Based?

• Southwest Airlines, founded in 1967 in Dallas, has grown to become one of the largest airlines in North America.
• The airline's headquarters offers unique training facilities for gate agents, flight attendants, and pilots.
• Southwest exclusively operates the Boeing 737 family aircraft and continues to expand operations with new planes.

Southwest Airlines is a major US-based carrier that operates on a low-cost carrier business model. Headquartered in Love Field, Dallas, Texas, the airline operates over 120 destinations in the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. The airline is the largest and exclusive operator of the Boeing 737 family aircraft, with over 800 active examples across various variants. Southwest is one of the largest airlines in North America by domestic passengers flown.

Southwest’s history

Southwest Airlines (IATA: WN, ICAO: SWA) was founded in March 1967 by Herb Kelleher and Rollin King as Air Southwest Co. Four years later, in June 1971, the airline commenced flight operations as Southwest Airlines. With its corporate hub in Love Field Dallas, the airline has opted "LUV" as its slogan and part of its mission. So much so that the airline went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1977 with the ticker symbol "LUV."

According to Southwest Airlines,

“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 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.”

In 2023, Southwest Airlines reported revenue of over $26 billion and a net income of $465 million. The airline continues to expand its operations in new markets with the incoming Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. As of last year, the airline had a combined workforce of nearly 75,000 people.

The Headquarters

Southwest Airlines headquarters is much more than a corporate office building. It includes several interesting areas for visitors, including the airline's history, a merchandised store, and a comprehensive training center for new gate agents and flight attendants. Besides numerous classrooms and activity halls, there is a mock-up of the airport check-in.

As reported by The Points Guy , trainee gate agents learn how to use the airline's ticketing and reservation system, check-in passengers for their flights, weigh their bags, and issue boarding cards. An additional replica of the gate area with seats and boarding stanchions helps trainers receive hands-on experience boarding passengers at the airport gate. A functioning PA system aids in practicing announcements when calling various boarding zones.

Trainee flight attendants learn and practice their skills in a specially configured Boeing 737 cabin experience trainer. The area is a full-sized 737 cabin with all passenger seats, overhead bins, alleyways, and galley areas. There is also an emergency training mock-up with a deployed emergency slide to practice evacuations. The area is also equipped with tools for water landing practice.

Pilots receive training in one of 26 simulators featuring a replica of the actual Boeing 737 cockpit. Southwest invests millions of dollars in each simulator and operates it around the clock.

Southwest Airlines Brings Back Companion Pass Promotion

Southwest’s major hubs.

Southwest operates scheduled flights to over 120 domestic and international destinations with its massive fleet of over 800 Boeing 737 family aircraft. The airline's major operating bases are located at:

• Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (ATL)
• Baltimore Airport (BWI)
• Chicago-Midway (MDW)
• Dallas-Love Field (DAL)
• Denver International Airport (DEN)
• Houston-Hobby Airport (HOU)
• Las Vegas Airport (LAS)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• Nashville International Airport (BNA) - From Q2, 2024
• Oakland Airport (OAK)
• Orlando International Airport (MCO)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX)

Southwest Airlines operates over 4,000 daily flights, primarily from its base airports and other secondary airports. The airlines' top ten airports with the most flights as of January are listed here.

The Other 4%: Who Serves Dallas Love Field Besides Southwest?

Southwest fleet.

Southwest Airlines is the world's largest operator of Boeing 737 aircraft. The airline exclusively operates the famous family of aircraft and, as mentioned earlier, maintains nearly 820 aircraft (across different variants) in its fleet. Besides a handful of historical Boeing 727 aircraft, Southwest has almost exclusively operated single-aisle 737s.

Southwest was the launch customer for the Boeing 737-300, 737-500, and 737-700. Since 2022, the airline has been taking Boeing 737 MAX 8 deliveries at approximately seven aircraft a month. Last year, Southwest took delivery of its 1,000th Boeing 737 aircraft.

Southwest only offers economy class seats onboard its aircraft. Passengers get two free checked bags. Tickets can be changed up to 10 minutes before departure without any extra charge. The airline also offers complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages to all passengers.

What are your thoughts on a major US-based carrier's history and current operations? Have you recently traveled with Southwest Airlines? Share your experience in the comments section.

Southwest Airlines

IATA/ICAO Code: WN/SWA

Airline Type: Low-Cost Carrier

Hub(s): Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Dallas Love Field, Denver International Airport, Harry Reid International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Houston Hobby Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Midway International Airport, Oakland International Airport, Orlando International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Year Founded: 1967

CEO: Robert Jordan

Country: United States

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Southwest Airlines treats Dallas-area class to field trip at headquarters

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