Southwest Airlines Community

Southwest Airlines ® is proud to announce the opening of an expanded Technical Operations (Tech Ops) facility at Phoenix Sky Harbor!         The 90,000-square foot expansion adds three new aircraft bays, allowing the airline to work on up to five aircraft simultaneously and maintenance shops to support the work of the nearly 500 Tech Ops Employees based at Sky Harbor. The work they do day and night ultimately focuses on our Customers and getting them to and from their destinations Safely, efficiently, and ontime.     Inside the expanded hangar, Tech Ops Teams perform daily scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on our fleet to keep our aircraft flying. Additionally, when Southwest receives new aircraft deliveries, Phoenix Tech Ops Teams complete what is known as a “make-ready,” where the aircraft is detailed with all the items that make it uniquely Southwest. This process can take about 24 hours before the aircraft is ready for revenue service.           The expanded hangar has also achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification. The expansion incorporated sustainable design features, including using recycled content in over 30% of the building materials, installing a high-reflectance roof and surrounding paving materials to reduce the heat island effect, and selecting building products from manufacturers with verified environmental performance.   Our first Tech Ops base in Phoenix opened in 1986, and we moved into a new maintenance hangar in 1993. With the opening of our expansion, we continue modernizing our spaces and investing in the facilities where our People work.     Additional hangar facilities are in Atlanta, Chicago (Midway), Dallas (Love Field), Denver, Houston (Hobby), and Orlando. Construction is underway on a new hangar facility at Baltimore/Washington International Airport, which is anticipated to open in 2025. Outside of the airport, our more than 5,400 Phoenix-based Employees share a passion for making the community a great place to live, work, and visit. Last year, Southwest Employees volunteered more than 10,000 hours while supporting more than 200 organizations focused on improving the quality of life for those who call Arizona home.   We always want to add to our Team as we grow in Phoenix! To learn more about our career opportunities, visit careers.southwestair.com. ... View more

Today is a special day to me because it recognizes the incredible contributions of Aircraft Mechanics to our industry, and I’m grateful for our Southwest Airlines Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) specifically. Our AMTs’ unwavering commitment to our Customers and their Safety makes each flight possible.     We celebrate National Aircraft Maintenance Technician Day on May 24 because this date honors the birthday of Charles E. Taylor, the first aviation mechanic in powered flight who served as the Wright brothers' mechanic. He’s credited for designing and building the engine for their first successful aircraft. In short, Taylor created the wind beneath the Wright brothers' wings. While we’re thankful for our Mechanics every single day, we take today to honor the unsung heroes that make every Southwest flight possible with their behind-the-scenes work.   Charles Taylor’s immeasurable contributions also led to the creation of the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award. The award recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of experienced mechanics. For eligibility, nominees must meet a variety of qualifications, including 50 or more years of civil and military maintenance experience. I’m proud to share that many Southwest Employees received this award throughout the years, including two current Employees and recipients this year. What an outstanding accomplishment!     Each day, our Employees and hundreds of thousands of Passengers board our aircraft, and simply put, we couldn’t have the airline we operate without our Mechanics. Although every Southwest Employee plays a role in the Safety of our operation in different ways, our Mechanics and Inspectors provide a direct line of responsibility because they maintain the Safety of our aircraft.   Curious how an engine works? Our Technical Operations Department works up close and personal with our aircraft. Aircraft Maintenance Technician, Nikki S., shares a high-level explanation of how a turbine engine utilizes air and fuel to help our aircraft take flight. Enjoy this video that takes a behind-the-scenes look at a Southwest Maintenance Hangar.         Do you want to work up close and personal with planes just like Nikki and our other AMTs? Visit swa.is/SouthwestTechOps to learn all about becoming an Aircraft Maintenance Technician at Southwest.   Thank you to all of our AMTs for your hard work and dedication to our industry and Company.     ... View more