Southwest Airlines is a major U.S.-based airline headquartered in Dallas, Texas. It operates primarily an all-Boeing 737 fleet and serves over 100 destinations across 42 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Known formerly as a low-cost carrier, Southwest uses a point-to- point system rather than the traditional hub-and-spoke model. It offers economy class seating with no first or business class and has a unique open seating policy that will transition to assigned seating in 2026. The airline is notable for its customer-friendly policies such as free snacks, non- alcoholic beverages, and until recently, two free checked bags per passenger. It has undergone significant operational changes and leadership adjustments recently, including the end of the free checked bags policy and introducing premium seating options. Southwest also has interline agreements with Icelandair and China Airlines and operates one of the largest fleets of Boeing 737s in the world. The airline has a strong brand presence with a focus on friendly service and efficient boarding procedures.
