The original idea that would become our first route map was sketched on the back of a cocktail napkin at the St. Anthony Club in San Antonio in late 1966.  The actual napkin from the meeting between Rollin King and Herb Kelleher was not preserved, as at the time it simply was a conversation between two professionals.  However, many replicas have been produced over the years, including the napkins still in use onboard Southwest flights today.

Yes! Employees with a valid Southwest ID are welcome to tour the Southwest Campus. Guests are welcome but will need to be registered as a visitor (and escorted while on campus) by an Employee.

As much FUN as Southwest Employees have had over the years with the folklore of Southwest’s International Air Transport Association (IATA) airline code WN being, perhaps, in honor of Colleen Barrett’s fondness of musician Willie Nelson, the truth is not nearly as exciting. At the time of Southwest’s original application in 1971, the more logical “SW” was taken by a foreign airline. “ WN” was the closest combination available with an S or a W.

The Archive is located in the Herbert D. Kelleher building at the Southwest Corporate Campus in Dallas.

Shamu One debuted on May 23, 1988.  Today, Southwest proudly operates a fleet of 17 fully painted liveries celebrating the communities and nation we proudly serve.  Two MAX 8 aircraft also pay tribute to our previous standard liveries. 

When operations began in 1971, our original Leadership Team viewed Dallas Love Field and its close proximity to the central business district as the location best suited for a primary base of operations.

One of the oldest items we have in the Archive is the general ledger from when we were Air Southwest. It has entries in it as early as 1967!

Over more than 55 years of operating, Southwest has featured three liveries — Classic “Desert Gold” (1971 – 2001), Spirit “Canyon Blue” (2001 – 2014) and Heart “Bold Blue” (2014 – present).

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There have been six Southwest CEOs: Lamar Muse, Howard Putnam, Herb Kelleher, Jim Parker, Gary Kelly, and Bob Jordan.

Southwest began flying internationally in 2014.

Southwest began flying to New Orleans in 1979. This was our first destination outside the state of Texas.

Air Southwest, Co.

Southwest briefly operated a single Boeing 727 in 1979, and again in the mid-1980s with a small subfleet of five, to accommodate rapid growth of the Company.

In March 1992, Herb Kelleher did indeed arm wrestle over a disputed “Just Plane Smart” tagline also used by a small aviation company in South Carolina. While Herb was successful in just one of the three rounds, both companies emerged as winners when they agreed to share use of the slogan and also make donations to charities of the others choosing!

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Yes! Southwest common stock was first listed for trading on the American Stock Exchange on October 24, 1975. LUV was selected as a tribute to our home airport (Dallas Love Field) along with the heart prominantly featured in our logo.