Dallas-based Southwest announces mass layoffs, cutting 15% of corporate workforce

Southwest Airlines has announced an "unprecedented" mass layoff, cutting over 1,700 jobs. Monday evening, Southwest announced it is cutting 15% of its corporate and leadership workforce. "This decision is unprecedented in our 53-year history," Southwest President and CEO Bob Jordan said in a statement. Southwest said the layoffs won't start until late April. Southwest said most employees who are notified of their "displacement" will not continue to work but will continue to receive salary, benefits and bonus, if eligible, until April. "This is a very difficult and monumental shift, and I arrived at this decision after careful and thorough reflection, knowing how hard it will be to say goodbye to Cohearts who have been a significant part of our Culture and our accomplishments," Jordan said. "We are building a leaner organization with increased clarity regarding what is most important, quicker decision making, and a focus on getting the right things done with urgency—not unlike our entrepreneurial founding spirit of the 1970s." Investors have been pressuring Southwest's leadership to find ways to cut costs. The company said that, as a result of the layoffs, it will save roughly $210m in the remainder of 2025 and approximately $300m in 2026. The announcement comes amid a board shakeup and increased focus on cutting costs, like adopting an assigned seating policy.<br/>