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.
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.
Industry Benchmark
Southwest's score of 40 is higher than 98% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
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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 totalled about 1,135,414,000 kg CO2e, while Scope 2 emissions were around 141,673,000 kg CO2e. Scope 3 emissions accounted for approximately 3,419,415 kg CO2e, which includes 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 2019, the airline achieved estimated GHG emission reductions of about 918,000 tonnes CO2e. In 2020, they reported a total of approximately 14,807,489,000 kg CO2e, indicating a reduction from previous years. Despite these achievements, there are currently no specified reduction targets or commitments under the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) or other formal climate pledges. Southwest Airlines continues to focus on sustainability initiatives, aiming to enhance its environmental performance while navigating the complexities of the aviation industry's carbon footprint.
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| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
Location emissions 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 committed to some 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.
