In 1967, when Rollin King sketched a triangle connecting Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio on a napkin and told Herb Kelleher he could start an airline, the idea of democratizing air travel was born. They saw an opportunity to make flying accessible to everyone, not just the elite, by offering friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel. After overcoming significant legal challenges from established carriers, Southwest took its first flight on June 18, 1971, with just three planes serving three Texas cities. The founders' vision of putting People first—with a unique Culture built on Warrior Spirit, Servant's Heart, and a Fun-LUVing Attitude—would revolutionize the airline industry and create a company that millions of Customers and Employees would come to love.
Today, Southwest has grown from that bold napkin idea into one of the world's most admired airlines, operating across 117 airports in 11 countries with more than 72,000 Employees. The maverick airline that dared to challenge industry norms by offering famously low fares has carried more than 140 million Customers annually. Through decades of growth and change, Southwest has remained true to its founding purpose: connecting People to what's important in their lives through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel, all delivered with the Heart that has become the company's hallmark.
