DALLAS, Sept. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest
Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today announced that Reid Grandle, Senior Director in the Corporate
Strategy Department, has been promoted to Vice President Corporate
Strategy, succeeding Mike Delehant,
who recently left Southwest Airlines to pursue a role with a
European airline.
Since joining SWA in 2002, Delehant has served the airline in a
number of leadership positions in Strategic Planning and
Technology. Prior to joining Southwest, he was a principal
consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Dallas.
Grandle joined Southwest in 2014 in the Financial Planning &
Analysis Department. In his leadership role in Corporate Strategy,
he will be responsible for Southwest's Innovation, Data Science,
and Continuous Improvement functions, as well as play a key role in
the implementation of the Company's long-term strategic plan to
help Southwest achieve its vision of being the World's Most Loved,
Most Flown and Most Profitable airline. He will report to
Southwest's Executive Vice President Strategy & Innovation Tom
Nealon. To view Grandle's Biography and Photo, click
here.
"Reid will help shepherd the organization and be laser focused
on our priorities and sequence of investments that support our
Vision to be the World's Most Loved, Most Flown, and Most
Profitable airline," Nealon said. "Our corporate strategy is our
roadmap to ensure our Low Fare Brand is strong and the organization
is aligned to provide an innovative travel experience at the lowest
cost—all with the best People and an unmatched Culture."
Grandle is originally from Little
Rock, Ark. He began his career with Oliver Wyman as a Consultant. Prior to joining
Southwest, he was Principal in Oliver
Wyman's aviation practice, advising companies on strategic,
commercial, and operational issues. Grandle received his
undergraduate degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is married and has
two daughters.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 46th 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 52,000 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 98 destinations in the United States and seven additional
countries with service to three airports in Cuba expected to begin later this year,
subject to governmental approvals.
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. The
airline proudly unveiled a bold new look: Heart.
A new logo, aircraft livery, interior design featuring a new seat
and Flight Attendant galley, Employee-designed uniforms, and an
updated airport experience all showcase the dedication of Southwest
Employees who 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.