Public Profile

Southwest

Southwest Airlines Co., commonly known as Southwest, is a leading American low-cost airline headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Founded in 1967, the airline has grown to become a major player in the aviation industry, primarily serving domestic routes across the United States, with a focus on providing affordable travel options. Renowned for its unique business model, Southwest operates a point-to-point transit system, which allows for greater flexibility and efficiency. The airline's core services include scheduled passenger flights, with a commitment to no hidden fees and a generous baggage policy, setting it apart from competitors. With a strong market position, Southwest has consistently ranked among the top airlines for customer satisfaction and operational performance, making it a preferred choice for millions of travellers each year.

DitchCarbon Score

How does Southwest's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.

35

Industry Average

Mean score of companies in the Air Transport industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.

8

Industry Benchmark

Southwest's score of 35 is higher than 97% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.

97%

Southwest's reported carbon emissions

In 2023, Southwest Airlines reported total carbon emissions of approximately 24,873,759,000 kg CO2e. This figure includes emissions from various scopes: Scope 1 emissions were about 1,135,414,000 kg CO2e, primarily from stationary combustion, while Scope 2 emissions totalled around 141,673,000 kg CO2e. Additionally, Scope 3 emissions reached approximately 3,419,415 kg CO2e, encompassing categories such as employee commute and waste generated in operations. Over the years, Southwest has made significant strides in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. For instance, in 2018, the airline achieved estimated GHG emission reductions of about 785,000 tonnes CO2e. In 2019, they reported reductions of approximately 918,000 tonnes CO2e, and in 2020, they noted a reduction of about 1,000 tonnes CO2e. However, there are currently no specified reduction targets or commitments under the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) or other formal climate pledges. Overall, while Southwest Airlines has demonstrated a commitment to reducing its carbon footprint through various initiatives, the absence of formal reduction targets highlights an area for potential growth in their climate strategy.

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Access structured emissions data, company-specific emission factors, and source documents

20192020202120222023
Scope 1
20,029,020,000
00,000,000,000
0,000,000,000
0,000,000,000
0,000,000,000
Scope 2
44,783,000
-
-
00,000,000
00,000,000
Scope 3
153,621,000
0,000,000,000
0,000,000,000
0,000,000,000
0,000,000

Industry emissions intensity

Very low
Low
Medium
High
Very high
Some industries are more carbon intensive than others. Southwest's primary industry is Air transport services (62), which is very high in terms of carbon intensity compared to other industries.

Location emissions intensity

Very low
Low
Medium
High
Very high
The carbon intensity of the energy grid powering a company's primary operations has a strong influence on its overall carbon footprint. Southwest is headquartered in US, which has a rank of low, indicating low grid carbon intensity.

Reduction initiatives & disclosure networks

Companies disclose and commit to reducing emissions to show they are serious about reducing emissions impact over time. They can also help a company track its progress over time.

Southwest is not committed to any reduction initiatives we track. This may change over time as the company engages with new initiatives or updates its commitments. DitchCarbon will update this information as it becomes available.

Science Based Targets Initiative
Carbon Disclosure Project
The Climate Pledge
UN Global Compact
RE 100
Climate Action 100
Race To Net Zero

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