DALLAS, May 25, 2016
/PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) proudly
welcomes Secretary Norman Y. Mineta
to its company headquarters to share his personal journey with
Employees. From being the first Asian Pacific American mayor
of a major U.S. city to co-founding the Congressional Asian Pacific
American Caucus, Mineta has spent his career breaking glass
ceilings.
"Norman Y. Mineta has made
tremendous contributions to the United
States throughout his career, and we're excited for him to
share his personal journey with our Employees. He is a
phenomenal role model and his life story illustrates how
preparation, determination, and perseverance can overcome both
cultural stereotypes and systemic obstacles," said Ellen Torbert, Southwest Airlines' Vice
President of Diversity & Inclusion. "Southwest is honored to
have someone who has blazed trails in the Asian American community
speak to and enlighten our Employees during Asian American and
Pacific Islander Heritage Month."
Mineta served as United States
Secretary of Commerce under President Bill
Clinton and as United
States Secretary of Transportation under President
George W. Bush. To learn more about
Mineta's powerful story, visit Southwest Airlines' blog, NUTS About
Southwest.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 45th year of
service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines
(NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air
carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than
50,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually.
Southwest operates more than 3,900 departures a day during peak
travel season across a network of 97 destinations in the United States and seven additional
countries. Service to Long Beach,
California, the carrier's 98th city, begins
June 5, 2016.
Based on the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent
data, Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms
of originating domestic passengers boarded. The Company operates
the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world, the majority of
which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi providing gate-to-gate
connectivity. That connectivity enables Customers to use
their personal devices to view video on-demand movies and
television shows, as well as more than 20 channels of free, live TV
compliments of our valued Partners. Southwest created
Transfarency℠, a philosophy which treats Customers honestly
and fairly, and in which low fares actually stay 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 airlines may allow free checked bags on
select routes or for qualified circumstances), and there are no
change fees, though fare differences might apply. In 2014, the
airline proudly unveiled a bold new look: Heart.
The new aircraft livery, airport experience, and logo, showcase the
dedication of Southwest Employees to connect Customers with what's
important in their lives.
From its first flights on June 18,
1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented
affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of
Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and
increase in passenger traffic whenever the carrier enters new
markets. With 43 consecutive years of profitability,
Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known
for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's
performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the
communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and
the planet. The 2015 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found
at SouthwestOneReport.com.
Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online
at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.
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SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.