Southwest Airlines statement on CARES Act

Southwest Airlines statement on CARES Act:


21 April 2020:The Southwest Airlines Chairman and CEO Gary Kelly issued a public statement regarding the CARES ACT. According to the Act, Southwest Airlines in agreement with the United States Department of Treasury will receive the funding support necessary to protect the jobs of its more than 60,000 Employees through at least September 30, 2020, with the fundamental goal to maintain the carrier's unprecedented 49-year history absent a single involuntary furlough.

"We are extremely appreciative of the work of our federal leaders. President Trump, Secretaries Mnuchin and Chao, and the entire United States Congress recognize the unprecedented health and economic crisis that our nation is currently facing due to COVID-19, as well as the importance of airlines to our overall national economy, the supply chain, and the nation's future recovery after this crisis subsides," said Southwest Chairman and CEO Gary Kelly. "As we are now in the implementation phase of the CARES Act, we applaud the quick action by the US Department of Treasury to infuse liquidity into the economy and try to keep businesses open and people on the job-and that certainly includes the airlines and our Employees. So, on behalf of Southwest Airlines, my sincere thanks to Secretary Mnuchin and his entire team, who have been working so incredibly hard over the past few weeks to implement the core elements of the CARES Act."