Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Southwest Airlines is making significant changes to its operations, as it continues to reduce costs and streamline services. In addition to the 1,700 layoffs at its corporate headquarters, the airline is now shifting its skycap services to third-party vendors, a move that will affect employees working at several airports across the United States.
Currently, Southwest operates skycap services, which assist with curbside baggage check-ins, at 10 airports. However, the airline has announced that this service will transition to vendor-operated positions by mid-May. This change is part of a broader effort to reduce operational expenses while maintaining customer service at its airports. The airline has stated that employees currently performing skycap duties will be given the opportunity to apply for positions with the vendors.
Employees at airports such as Dallas Love Field and Austin are already being notified about the layoffs, with some long-time workers expressing disappointment over the decision. One employee shared their personal experience, revealing that their father, a long-term skycap employee, had been let go. The decision to outsource these roles to third-party contractors is part of Southwest’s ongoing efforts to reduce its operational costs, a move that mirrors industry trends seen with American Airlines, which outsourced curbside check-ins years ago and now charges passengers a fee for the service.
A Southwest Airlines spokesperson explained that, while the company had been operating 52 skycap positions, only the 10 airports with Southwest-run services will be outsourced. This shift is expected to align with the airline’s ongoing strategy to cut costs in light of its recent layoffs, which were initially described as being focused on corporate staff. However, the outsourcing of skycap services is part of the broader 1,700 layoffs, not in addition to them.
As the airline industry faces increasing pressure to find cost-cutting measures, Southwest’s move to outsource services that were previously employee-operated represents a shift toward adopting the fee-based, no-frills business model that many other airlines have implemented. Despite this, Southwest still touts its lower-cost fares and customer service advantages over competitors, though some critics argue that these recent changes may diminish the airline’s reputation for customer service.
Southwest has also been considering additional cost-saving strategies, including the potential introduction of ancillary fees, such as charging for curbside check-in, similar to what American Airlines implemented. While Southwest has not confirmed any future fee plans, the possibility of charging passengers for these services remains on the table as part of their broader cost-cutting initiatives.
