HEPA Filtration and Air Ventilation Onboard
HEPA Filtration and Air Ventilation Onboard
All of our aircraft are equipped with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, which remove 99.97% of airborne particles—including small particles such as bacteria and viruses.
This sophisticated air recirculation system introduces fresh air into the cabin every second, resulting in a complete exchange of cabin air every two to three minutes. We operate this air recirculation system at all points during the travel journey; while boarding, taxiing, inflight, and deplaning.
A study conducted by the Department of Defense found that HEPA filtration systems on planes provide more protection than those in operating rooms or patient isolation rooms. Researchers at Harvard concluded that this degree of ventilation and filtration effectively counters the proximity travelers are subject to during flights.
Learn more about this research: Letting Research Guide Our Southwest Promise
Our VP of Tech Ops explains how our HEPA filters are constantly working to keep the air onboard our planes moving and clean:
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