Southwest Airlines: 17 Years of Hospital Help And Transport

Southwest Airlines (SWA) is celebrating 17 years of partnering with non-profit hospitals and medical transportation organisations.   

The partnership provides round air travel for patients and caregivers who are unable to access immediate care, regardless of their circumstances.

The aim of the Southwest Airlines Medical Transportation Grant Program (MTGP) is to ease the financial burden on patients and their relatives when needing life-saving treatments. 

The generous company supplies free transportation to medical facilities throughout the whole of the USA, making healthcare accessible. 

The MTGP

Since the start of the program, SWA has donated more than US$56.6m in air transportation for 1000’s of patients and caregivers travelling for crucial medical care. 

In 2024, SWA provided aid to 79 organisations across 26 states and 40 cities and 13,000 round-trip tickets for individuals and their families. 

Laura Neito, Managing Director Corporate Responsibility at SWA comments: "We've seen that patients often aren't near a hospital or can't afford air travel to a medical facility that provides the care they need.

"Travel is often an important part of critical care needs, and it's an honour to use our unique role as an airline to get patients closer to life-saving care."

The company also understands the impact transport has on the environment, which is why it supports global projects like: Delta Blue Carbon (mangrove restoration in Pakistan), The Guatemalan Conservation Coast (Supporting new and existing forests) and Kootznoowoo Improved Forest Management Project (carbon revenue produced from protected forests in Alaska).

SWA environmental targets

SWA has set a comprehensive timeline to achieve its sustainability targets and diminish Scope 3 emissions:

2025

• Reduce single-use plastics from inflight service by 50% by weight 
• Save 50 million incremental gallons of jet fuel

2030

• Eliminate single-use plastics from inflight service where feasible
• Electrify 50% of eligible ground support equipment
• Reduce emissions intensity by 25%
• Replace 10% of total jet fuel consumption with SAF

2035 

• Reduce emissions intensity by 50%
• Save 1.1 billion cumulative gallons of jet fuel
• Reduce energy utilisation index (EUI) in our Dallas headquarters by 50%

2050

• Net zero

The path to net zero involves multiple steps and multiple Scope 3 categories, these include: 

Fleet renewal

Southwest’s focus on fleet renewal and modernisation depends on new, more fuel-efficient aircraft and technology from manufacturers. 

This directly relies on purchased goods and services (category 1) and upstream transportation and distribution (category 4). 

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)

SAF is crucial for reducing lifecycle emissions in SWA operations, indirectly lowering Scope 3 emissions associated with fuel extraction, production and refining (category 3). Investments in SAF support emissions reductions through purchased renewable fuels and help drive market demand.

Verified offsets

Verified carbon offsets may help Southwest meet its net-zero goals if other initiatives fall short. These offsets contribute to Scope 3 by enabling investments in renewable or environmental projects that sequester carbon.

Operational efficiency

Measuring route optimisation and weight reduction can improve fuel efficiency and lower Scope 3 emissions related to fuel transportation, engine operations and the overall carbon footprint of internal travel (category 6). 

NextGen Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initiatives

FAA initiatives – including air traffic control optimisation, contribute to reducing fuel use and emissions during flight, supporting Scope 3 reductions by enhancing operational efficiency and minimising fuel-related emissions during travel.

Each of these levers indirectly impacts Scope 3 emissions, helping SWA reduce its total value chain footprint as part of its journey to net zero.

SWA is taking a step forward in reducing Scope 3 emissions globally, for their own benefits and many other companies, paving the way for a green future.

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