DALLAS, Oct. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest
Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) is working with the Stanford University School of Medicine to review
the carrier's multi-layered approach to supporting the well-being
of Customers and Employees during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Southwest Promise encompasses the changes the airline has
made to its around-the-clock operations, cleaning procedures, and
physical-distancing measures, and representatives from Stanford Medicine will now offer medical advice
and protocol recommendations to guide the airline's ongoing and
future efforts during the pandemic.
As part of the collaboration, Southwest will have access to an
advisory council comprised of Stanford
Medicine's physician-scientists with knowledge and expertise
in infectious diseases, prevention and testing protocols, and the
latest medical research about COVID-19. This advisory council will
provide insights to support Southwest's commitment to keeping
Safety as an uncompromising priority.
"We look forward to working with Stanford Medicine as we continue utilizing a
science-based approach to develop and bolster our operational
policies and practices during the ongoing pandemic," said
Gary Kelly, Southwest's Chairman of
the Board and Chief Executive Officer. "This collaboration adds to
our advisory partners and brings a team of physician-scientists
into our ongoing discussions and will infuse the latest medical
research and public health recommendations into our mission of
supporting the well-being of our Customers and Employees."
"Stanford Medicine is advising
organizations and companies like Southwest as they evaluate their
practices during the ongoing pandemic," said Lloyd Minor, MD, Dean of the Stanford School of
Medicine. "We look forward to providing our insights to the
airline."
The Southwest Promise: A Multi-Layered Approach to Cleaning
and Comfort
Stanford Medicine will serve as a
trusted advisor, in addition to Southwest's current relationship
with UT Southwestern Medical Center, to review elements of The
Southwest Promise, which are implemented to create a
comfortable travel experience and support the well-being of
Employees and Customers. The commitment to cleaning and distancing
measures encompasses the following elements:
Prior to Travel:
Face Coverings Required: All Southwest Customers and
Employees over the age of two are required to wear a covering over
their mouth and nose throughout the travel journey. If a Customer
does not have a face covering, Southwest will have face masks
available at the airport and onboard its aircraft.
Customer Health Declaration: Customers are required to
acknowledge an awareness of the carrier's face covering policy and
confirm they do not have symptoms of COVID-19 and have not been
diagnosed with, or exposed to, COVID-19 in the 14 days prior to
travel. They also are required to confirm they do not have a fever
when they travel. The declaration appears during the online
check-in process via the Southwest app, Southwest.com, the
carrier's mobile website, SWABIZ.com, and airport kiosks.
At the Airports:
Airport Cleaning: Southwest is cleaning ticket
counters, gates, kiosks, and baggage claim areas multiple times a
day. Additionally, the airline is utilizing electrostatic sprayers
to apply a disinfectant to airport areas at least once per
week.
Physical Distancing in Airports: Southwest is boarding in
smaller groups of 10 to allow for distancing and queuing only on
one side of boarding poles in the gate areas. Additionally, new
airport signage and floor markers highlight and encourage proper
distances throughout the boarding areas. Southwest also has
installed Plexiglas® at ticketing and gate counters and baggage
service offices to help everyone keep their distance during
in-person transactions and interactions between Employees and
Customers.
Hand Hygiene: Hand sanitizer is available at
check-in kiosks, ticket counters, and gates.
Onboard Southwest Aircraft:
HEPA Filters: Every aircraft is equipped with a
sophisticated air distribution system that introduces fresh,
outdoor air and HEPA-filtered air into the cabin while inflight,
resulting in an exchange of cabin air every two to three minutes.
Southwest uses HEPA filters onboard that remove 99.97% of airborne
particles*—similar to the technology found in hospitals (*measuring
0.3 micrometers or greater in diameter passing through the
filter).
Middle Seats Open: Southwest has committed to keeping the
equivalent of all middle seats open through Nov. 30 to allow room for physical distancing
onboard every flight.
Enhanced Overnight Aircraft Cleaning: Southwest deep
cleans each plane from nose to tail for nearly six to seven labor
hours every night, including all high-touch surfaces such as seat
belt buckles, tray tables, air vents, arm rests, galleys, and
lavatories.
Electrostatic Aircraft Spraying: Both an
electrostatic disinfectant and an anti-microbial spray are applied
on every surface of the aircraft, killing viruses on contact and,
then, forming an anti-microbial coating, or shield, for 30 days.
Cleaning Before Every Flight: Sani-Cide EX3, a
broad-spectrum disinfectant, is used to clean onboard lavatories
and tray tables before every flight. Additionally, sanitizing wipes
are available for Customers onboard, upon request.
We invite you to learn more about our efforts at
www.southwest.com/promise.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 50th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines
Co. continues to differentiate itself from other air
carriers with exemplary Customer Service to a Customer base topping
130 million passengers in 2019. Southwest became the nation's
largest domestic air carrier in 2003 and maintains that ranking
based on the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent
reporting of domestic originating passengers boarded. In peak
travel seasons during 2019, Southwest operated more than 4,000
weekday departures among a network of 101 destinations in
the United States and 10
additional countries. In early 2020, the carrier added service to
Hilo, Hawaii, and Cozumel, Mexico. Southwest will begin service
to Palm Springs on and
Miami on Nov. 15, as well as two new seasonal destinations
in Colorado, Steamboat Springs and Montrose (Telluride) on Dec. 19,
2020.
The carrier issued its Southwest® Promise in
May 2020 to highlight new and
round-the-clock efforts to support its Customers and Employees
wellbeing and comfort. Among the changes are enhanced cleaning
efforts at airports and onboard aircraft, facemask requirements for
Customers and Employees, and capping the number of passengers on
every flight to allow middle seats to remain open through
Nov. 30, 2020. Additional details
about the Southwest Promise are available at
Southwest.com/Promise.
Southwest coined Transfarency® to
describe its purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and
fairly, and low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only
major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free® to
everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and
weight limits apply, some carriers offer free checked bags on
select routes or in qualified circumstances). Southwest does not
charge change fees, though fare differences might apply.
Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world,
known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the
carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its
People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to
efficiency and the planet. Learn more about how the carrier gives
back to communities across the world by visiting
Southwest.com/citizenship.
Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online
at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.
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SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.