Southwest's sustainability record is fundamentally weak. Absolute emissions are rising despite intensity-based targets. The airline has gutted its sustainability team and sold its renewable fuel subsidiary under activist pressure in 2025, signaling a retreat from climate commitments. Scope 3 coverage is limited, SAF adoption negligible, and net zero excludes most supply chain emissions.
Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleStrongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain (6/10, 5/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Energy Source (0/10, 1/10).
14 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.
8 of 14 sources are third-party verified or public record.
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Among the 18 major aerospace brands we've scored, Southwest Airlines is tied =12th of 18, with 4 others.
Score history begins 4 April 2026.
As Southwest Airlines's score updates, the trajectory will appear here.
We're backfilling historical scores for FTSE 100 and S&P 100 companies over the coming weeks.
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Southwest Airlines is a major US low-cost carrier founded in 1976, headquartered in Dallas. Operating 59,793 employees and generating $23.8 billion in annual revenue (FY2022), it ranks among the largest domestic US airlines. The company operates a point-to-point network focused on short-haul domestic routes across North America.
Competitor with SBTi commitment and stronger near-term climate targets despite similar operational challenges
View breakdown →Peer airline with more ambitious SAF uptake goals and science-based target alignment
View breakdown →Low-cost carrier with similarly weak absolute emissions trajectory and minimal SAF investment
View breakdown →European budget airline comparable in scale with stronger renewable energy and electrification commitments
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