Southwest Airlines awarded $543 million to its employees

DALLAS, TX, 2018-Mar-16 — /Travel PR News/ — Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) Employees were awarded $543 million today in ProfitSharing. The 2017 award equals approximately 11.3 percent of each eligible Employee’s eligible compensation—the equivalent of more than five weeks’ pay.

This $543 million contribution—nearly $1.5 million a day—is the third-largest total dollar amount Southwest Airlines^® has ever allocated to ProfitSharing. Southwest ProfitSharing contributions have totaled more than $4.5 billion over 44 consecutive years, and more than $2 billion for the past four years alone (2014-2017).

The Company paid part of the ProfitSharing award to the retirement plan and part in cash. Most eligible Employees received 10 percent of eligible compensation as a contribution to the ProfitSharing Plan, and the remainder—approximately 1.3 percent—in cash. Pilots received the entire ProfitSharing award as a contribution to their retirement plan accounts as specified in their collective bargaining agreement.

When combined with contributions of $476 million to its 401(k) plans, this ProfitSharing award represents a total investment of more than $1 billion in Southwest Employees in 2017. This is in addition to the $1,000 tax reform bonus already paid to each eligible Employee in January 2018, on top of base salaries.

Southwest was the first in the airline industry to offer a ProfitSharing Plan. Through the ProfitSharing Plan, Southwest Employees currently own more than 4 percent of the Company’s outstanding shares.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 47th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 56,000 Employees to a Customer base topping 120 million passengers annually, in recent years. Southwest became the nation’s largest domestic air carrier in 2003 and maintains that ranking based on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s most recent reporting of domestic originating passengers boarded. During peak travel seasons, Southwest operates more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 100 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries. Southwest has announced its intention to sell tickets in 2018 for service to Hawaii, subject to requisite governmental approvals.

Southwest coined Transfarency^® to describe its purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and low fares actually staying 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 carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare differences might apply.

As launch customer of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 in North America, the Company operates the largest fleet in the world of Boeing aircraft, all of which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi. Customers who connect to the WiFi network may use their personal devices to view on-demand movies and television shows, as well as nearly 20 channels of free, live TV.

With a bold new look first unveiled in 2014, Southwest is progressing through a multi-year refresh of its fleet to showcase the carrier’s Heart: a new logo, aircraft livery, interior design featuring new seats, Employee-designed uniforms, and an updated airport experience, all of which showcase a 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 wherever the carrier serves. With 45 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.

Book Southwest Airlines’ low fares online at Southwest Airlines or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.

 

SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.

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