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Southwest Suffers First LayoffsCutting 1,750 From Workforce

Joe Cortez February 172025

For the first time in Southwest Airline’s historythe carrier is cutting their staffing numbers – but frontline employeesincluding pilots and flight attendantswill not be affected.

After pressure from activist investors to cut costs and improve profitabilitySouthwest Airlines is taking a step that many thought would never happen.

The Wall Street Journal reports the airline is holding their first ever round of layoffscutting their workforce by 1,750.

Eliminated Jobs Include Senior LeadershipBut Frontline Staff Remains Untouched

According to the Journalthe job cuts will include 11 senior leadership positions. It is unknown how many additional jobs will be cut from Dallas or other cities. By shedding jobsthe airline is expected to save over $500 million by 2027.

The layoffs will not affect frontline staff employed by the airline. Gate agentsflight attendantsand pilots will all be spared.

In a letter seen by the newspaperSouthwest CEO Bon Jordan insisted that the first ever layoff round was a “difficult and monumental shift.” He also stressed that: “We must ensure we fund the right workreduce duplicative effortsand have a lean organizational structure that drives claritypaceand urgency.”

The cuts will become effective in April 2025. Until thenthe employees will continue to receive their pay and benefits.

Southwest’s layoffs are the latest major change to come after a long-standing proxy battle with Elliott Investment Management. In October 2024the airline announced their plans for “Southwest 2.0,” which included several changes to the in-flight product. The declaration included the launch of premium seatingassigned seatingand a partnership with Icelandair.

Later that monththe airline also agreed to add six new members to their boardwhile former chief executive Gary Kelly resigned from the board chairman position.

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