Southwest Airlines Community

Happy Earth Day! For years, Southwest has taken pride in being the airline with Heart and that includes respecting our Planet. Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to honor the work we’ve done so far and to look forward to what’s to come.   In 2023, we launched our updated sustainability strategy, Nonstop to Net Zero. This strategy outlines our path to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, supporting a more sustainable future. To help guide our more holistic approach toward sustainability, we established carbon, circularity, and collaboration as strategic pillars.     We are laser-focused on our path toward net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and a more sustainable future; for us, every day is Earth Day. Here are some other ways we’re working to make progress across the Company:   Hawaii Seaglider Initiative: Partnerships play a crucial role in achieving our sustainability efforts—like the Hawaiʻi Seaglider Initiative. With our membership, we will be a partner in funding a research study that will help us understand the feasibility of establishing an inter-island and intra-island seaglider network that uses 100% electric, zero direct emissions technology.   Electric Ground Support Equipment (eGSE): We’ve set a specific goal to electrify 50% of eligible GSE system-wide by 2030, which includes baggage tugs, beltloaders, and pushbacks. So many of our Stations are hard at work to help make this happen—like PHL, BOS, and AUS! Thanks in part to the Philadelphia Department of Aviation, 12 electric GSE chargers with a total of 24 charging positions have been installed. PHL has even recognized the environmental commitment of Southwest Airlines with an Earth Day award. In BOS, we were just awarded a $442,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to fund more eGSE, and in AUS, we now have almost 100% eGSE for beltloaders, bag tugs, and pushbacks, which was made possible through Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) $1,200,000 and $8,000 grants, respectively.   PHX: In 2023, we completed construction of our Phoenix Maintenance Hangar, and in early 2024, the expanded hangar was awarded LEED Silver Certification. LEED is the world's most widely used green building rating system. To achieve this recognition, the PHX expansion incorporated sustainable design features like the use of recycled content in over 30% of the building materials, the installation of high-reflectance roof and surrounding paving materials to reduce heat island effect, and the selection of building products from manufacturers with verified environmental performance. I’m incredibly grateful for the Teams that drove this forward!   Southwest Airlines Renewable Ventures (SARV): In February, we announced the launch of SARV, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwest, focused on creating more opportunities to obtain scalable, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Having a dedicated investment arm of our business is an exciting step forward to support our goal to replace 10% of our total jet fuel consumption with SAF by 2030.   To continue this work, in March Southwest acquired SAFFiRE Renewables as part of the SARV investment portfolio. This acquisition marks Southwest’s transition from investor to sole owner of SAFFiRE, expressing our confidence in SAFFiRE’s promising technology to develop and produce scalable renewable ethanol that can be converted into SAF. As we continue taking a proactive approach toward securing affordable SAF, Southwest has also announced a $30 million investment in LanzaJet, Inc., also as part of the SARV investment portfolio. LanzaJet is a SAF technology provider and producer with a patented ethanol-to-SAF technology and the world's first ethanol-to-SAF commercial plant. LanzaJet will support Southwest’s efforts to convert SAFFiRE’s renewable ethanol into SAF.   And did you know you can also contribute to Southwest's sustainability journey by participating in our voluntary carbon offset program? Carbon offsetting helps organizations offset carbon emissions 1 associated with certain activities, like flying, by supporting projects that avoid carbon emissions 3 . In celebration of Earth Month, between now and May 19 th , Southwest is doubling our normal offer, meaning you can earn 20 Rapid Rewards® bonus points 2 per dollar, and Southwest will pitch in $2 for every $1 spent helping us offset our carbon emissions! I’m excited about the amazing work being done across the Company and by our Cohearts, and I am incredibly optimistic about what we are working towards. This Earth Day, I encourage us all to reflect on our environmental impact—and think about ways we can improve for the future. What are some ways you’ve shown your Heart for the Planet this month? 1 Carbon emissions for flight activity are estimated using several factors such as: aircraft type, conventional jet fuel consumption, flight distance, and assumed load factor. Emission estimates are based on the fleet wide distance-weighted average performance of Southwest's flights from the Second Quarter of 2023. Southwest's emissions estimates do not quantify the potential climate change impact of non-carbon emissions resulting from a flight or non-flight factors, such as the production or transportation of conventional jet fuel to the aircraft prior to takeoff. Actual carbon emissions may vary from estimates.   2 “Taxes and fees (except for the processing fee) will not be matched by Southwest or earn points. From April 19 to May 19, 2024 (the “Promotional Period”), Rapid Rewards® Members can earn 20 Rapid Rewards bonus points per dollar spent on offsets up to a maximum of 50,000 Rapid Rewards bonus points per month. Points will only be awarded to the Member's Rapid Rewards account number entered at the time of the carbon offset transaction. Southwest's matching contribution will be used to purchase additional offsets to support global projects, and such additional offsets will be retired for Southwest. Terms and conditions apply.   3  This portfolio of projects is subject to change at any time without notice, and Customer offset purchases may support carbon offset projects that are not presented on Southwest.com. Southwest makes no representations or guarantees, including, but not limited to, representations or guarantees of integrity, quality, and permanence, with respect to the offsets ultimately purchased or sourced by CHOOOSE™ using Customer funds or with funds contributed by Southwest. Southwest's matching contribution will be used to purchase additional offsets to support global projects, and such additional offsets will be retired for Southwest. ... View more

  As part of Southwest Airlines’ 10-year Environmental Sustainability plan, one of our goals is to Replace 10% of our total jet fuel consumption with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030. SAF plays a critical role in supporting our 2030 goals and ultimately reaching carbon neutrality by 2050!   Over the past year, we’ve continued to collaborate with different producers and partners to help make SAF commercially available. We have entered into a number of offtake agreements and memoranda of understanding to advance the commercialization of SAF. And, we are also engaging with corporate Customers! Many of our corporate Customers have their own environmental sustainability goals in which certain emission reductions from our use of SAF can play a role. Under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, Scope 1 emissions generated by Southwest’s use of SAF are considered Scope 3 emissions for our Customers. Where SAF can help us address the Scope 1 emissions from our jet fuel, it can also give Corporate Customers, through our SAF Beta Program, the opportunity to purchase certain Scope 3 emission reduction rights associated with our utilization of SAF in our operations.   However, the amount of SAF produced in 2021 was less than 0.1% of global jet fuel demand, and today SAF is two to four times more expensive than conventional jet fuel. Some of our corporate Customers have expressed a desire to help develop this market, which is why we launched our SAF Beta Program. Through the SAF Beta Program, we engage with eligible Southwest Business Customers in agreements that support Southwest’s utilization of available, qualifying SAF in its operation.   How does this work? Our eligible Southwest Business Customers purchase certain Scope 3 emissions reductions rights from Southwest’s use of such SAF. This enables Customers to help Southwest implement SAF into our operation at a cost that is closer to conventional jet fuel than the 2-3X premium today, and sends a demand signal to SAF producers. To date, we are engaging with Deloitte, Siemens USA, and Zurich North America! We are excited by the interest in this program and look forward to growing it more in 2023!   As part of this program, we’re excited to share a new partnership with 4Air. 4Air is an aviation sustainability company providing consulting, documentation, and rating services. With 4Air, we will provide Southwest Business Customers in our SAF Beta Program with independently verified assurance for the Scope 3 emissions reduction calculations and documentation associated with their support of expanding the use of SAF in Southwest’s operations. Southwest has processes in place to track emissions-reduction rights for our corporate partners in the program, and we are proud to partner with 4Air to verify that the purchased rights to emissions reductions have been correctly accounted for!   Over the past year, we’ve made a number of exciting announcements related to our SAF efforts, like being the first airline to bring SAF to Oakland International Airport. Please visit southwest.com/SAF to learn more about our SAF efforts! ... View more

At Southwest, we take pride in being the airline with Heart and that includes respecting our Planet. In October 2021, we announced our goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and we released a 10-year plan to maintain carbon neutrality to 2019 levels while continuing to grow our operations. Our 10-year plan centers around the key focus areas Reduce, Replace, Offset, and Partner, and I’m impressed by the work we’ve done so far in each focus area. We couldn’t have done this without partnering with so many of you!   While our environmental sustainability journey is far from over, it is important we take a moment to celebrate the work we’ve done. Personally, I’m really excited about the following actions we have taken: Investing in SAFFiRE, a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Pilot Project Becoming a Founding Member of the Aviation Climate Taskforce Announcing 15-Year Agreement With Velocys for SAF Committing $10 Million to Yale University to support climate change research Adding SAF to our Oakland operations Launching a Carbon Offset Offer for our individual Customers with Rapid Rewards Bonus Points, 1 and for every dollar contributed toward offsetting Southwest’s carbon emissions, Southwest will match the contribution. 2   If you’re interested in learning more about our environmental sustainability efforts, check out southwest.com/Planet. With both new and updated content, these web pages provide a great look at the different initiatives Southwest is focused on.       1 Taxes and fees (except for the processing fee) will not be matched by Southwest or earn points. Rapid Rewards® Members can earn 10 Rapid Rewards bonus points per dollar contributed towards the purchase of offsets for Southwest up to a maximum of 500 Rapid Rewards bonus points per month. Points will only be awarded to the Member’s Rapid Rewards account number entered at the time of the carbon offset transaction. Terms and conditions apply.   2 Carbon emissions for flight activity are estimated using several factors such as: aircraft type, conventional jet fuel consumption, flight distance, and assumed load factor. Emission estimates are based on the fleet wide distance-weighted average performance of Southwest’s flights from the Second Quarter of 2022. Southwest’s emissions estimates do not quantify the potential climate change impact of non-carbon emissions resulting from a flight. Actual carbon emissions may vary from estimates. All offsets will be retired in the name of Southwest Airlines Co. ... View more

Southwest Airlines has evaluated, developed, and started executing various initiatives to improve environmental stewardship across our airline. Last month, we announced our 10-year plan to maintain carbon-neutrality to 2019 levels while continuing to grow our operations.   Ultimately, our goal—and the  U.S. government’s goal for the aviation sector—is to be carbon neutral by 2050. This will likely require the innovation of new decarbonization technologies, which is why we became a founding member of the Aviation Climate Taskforce.   Environmental sustainability is a priority for us. That is why we are also looking outside of our industry to support research and development of solutions to climate change. We decided to support advances in natural carbon sequestration, which can have a significant impact on removing carbon dioxide from our atmosphere and mitigating the effects of greenhouse gas emissions. Our search led us to make a commitment to contribute $10 million to the Yale School of the Environment (YSE) and the Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture (YCNCC). We will fulfill our donation through the Southwest Airlines Foundation, a corporate-advised fund within the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.   Representatives from Southwest Airlines and Yale University met earlier this month to talk about progress and future plans for the center.The purpose of this contribution commitment is to fund activity at the center to research technological advancements and explore new solutions to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions. It will also help fund exploration of the current state of sustainability, strategy, policy, and economics—including a focus on finding new possibilities to reduce atmospheric carbon. This innovative partnership allows Southwest to support the development of crucial science to combat climate change.   “The climate crisis is the biggest challenge we face as a species,” says Michael Crair, vice provost for research at Yale. “To find solutions, we will need the very best efforts of scientists and policy experts at Yale and around the world. It’s a collaborative effort, and I am so grateful that Southwest Airlines has stepped forward to join our efforts in creating a sustainable future.”   We seek to team up with other environmentally-minded organizations to help us amplify our impact and make the planet a better, more sustainable place. It’s important to support initiatives that take a holistic approach to decarbonization in the long term. Scientific research and development are crucial to the success of tackling climate change, and we’re honored to support Yale’s groundbreaking work in this vital space. ... View more

The following blog was co-authored by Helen Giles and Yvonne Ryan.     We seek to promote a better, healthier Planet, but we recognize we can’t accomplish it alone. Protecting our Planet is going to require a joint effort from individuals, communities, and businesses—all working together to do their part. That’s why Southwest Airlines is excited to announce a partnership with CHOOOSE™ that allows Customers to earn 10 Rapid Rewards ® bonus points per dollar contributed to help Southwest offset its carbon emissions, up to a maximum of 500 Rapid Rewards bonus points per month.*   Customers can show their Heart for the Planet by contributing funds for the purchase of offsets at Southwest.com/wannaoffsetcarbon. When a Customer contributes funds, those funds will be used to purchase carbon offsets sourced from global projects that avoid carbon emissions, including those that protect land that could otherwise undergo significant commercial timber harvesting or avoid unplanned deforestation and degradation.   For every dollar a Customer contributes, to help Southwest offset its carbon dioxide emission, Southwest will match the contribution, furthering our support of these important projects.*         This carbon offset offer is one part of the Company’s 10-year plan to maintain carbon-neutral growth to 2019 levels every year through the end of the decade while continuing to grow its operations. In addition to offsetting, the Company plans to continue modernizing its fleet with more fuel-efficient aircraft and support the development of sustainable aviation fuel.   This launch is an important component of our overall environmental sustainability plan to reduce, replace, and offset. Our ultimate objective is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and partnering with CHOOOSE™ and our Customers is an exciting part of our journey.   *Taxes and fees will not be matched by Southwest or earn points. Rapid Rewards Members can earn 10 Rapid Rewards bonus points per dollar contributed towards the purchase of offsets for Southwest up to a maximum of 500 Rapid Rewards bonus points per month. Points will only be awarded to the Rapid Rewards Member’s Rapid Rewards account number entered at the time of the carbon offset transaction. Allow up to 8 weeks for bonus points to appear in the Rapid Rewards Account. All offsets will be retired in the name of Southwest Airlines Co. Terms and conditions apply. ... View more