Southwest Airlines, commonly known as SWA, is owned by its shareholders. The company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “LUV.” This means that ownership of Southwest Airlines is distributed among various individuals and institutional investors who hold shares of the company’s stock.
The largest shareholders of Southwest Airlines are typically institutional investors such as mutual funds, pension funds, and other investment firms. These entities hold significant stakes in the company, often owning millions of shares. However, individual investors also play a role in ownership, with many people owning shares of Southwest Airlines through their personal brokerage accounts.
One of the key figures in the history of Southwest Airlines is its co-founder, Herb Kelleher. Kelleher, along with Rollin King, established the airline in 1967. Kelleher served as the company’s CEO and later as its executive chairman until his retirement in 2008. His vision and leadership played a crucial role in shaping the airline’s culture and success.
Today, Southwest Airlines is led by CEO Bob Jordan, Chairman Gary Kelly, and President & COO Mike Van de Ven. These executives, along with the board of directors, oversee the operations and strategic direction of the company. While they hold influential positions within Southwest Airlines, they do not own the entire company outright. Instead, they are responsible for managing the company on behalf of its shareholders.
It is important to note that ownership of a publicly traded company like Southwest Airlines can change over time. Shareholders can buy or sell their shares, and new investors can enter the market. This means that the ownership structure of Southwest Airlines may evolve as investors make decisions based on market conditions, financial performance, and other factors.
Southwest Airlines is owned by its shareholders, which include both institutional investors and individual investors. The company’s co-founders played a significant role in its early years, but ownership is now distributed among various stakeholders. The current leadership team, including the CEO, chairman, and president, manages the company on behalf of its shareholders.