Herb Kelleher remains to be a beloved presence at Southwest Airways, two years after his dying.
The flight attendants on my Southwest flight from Orlando, Fla., to Austin on Jan. Three all wore a easy button with a face on it that I didn’t acknowledge instantly.
Once I requested one attendant in regards to the pin, she smiled.
“It’s Herb Kelleher, our founder,” she defined.
Co-founder, technically.
The buttons recalled a less complicated time on the airline, when Southwest Airways was making large earnings and staff had been safe of their jobs and half of a giant, completely satisfied household.
The airline has been no-frills since its first flight in 1971. No actual meals — aside from snack luggage — and no first-class part or airport lounges.
What made the airline stand out had been its staff. Flight attendants had been all the time pleasant, telling jokes. They gave the impression to be having a superb time. Not like virtually each different main airline on this planet, Southwest had by no means laid off staff.
Then COVID-19 hit, and the airline is dropping cash for the primary time. Chairman and CEO Gary Kelly shook worker morale final yr with a risk of furloughs except staff took a 10 % pay minimize.
Southwest remains to be no-frills, however the staff aren’t joking a lot anymore. Some flight attendants even appear a bit cranky.
Remembering the spirit Kelleher delivered to Southwest could also be a superb factor for the airline.
My flight got here two years to the date of Kelleher’s dying on the age of 87 on Jan. 3, 2019. Kelleher, who served as CEO and president of Southwest for 20 years, stepped down as firm chairman greater than a decade in the past.
But he remained energetic as chairman emeritus, maintaining an workplace at Southwest headquarters in Dallas and making appearances at firm reward dinners.
And staff nonetheless cherished him. The flight attendant mentioned merely, “Herb was somebody very particular.”
He was recognized for his colourful antics, a rarity amongst CEOs. He dressed up as Elvis Presley and as soon as settled a enterprise dispute with a public arm-wrestling contest.
However what endeared him to staff went past his colourful character.
When Kelleher, a San Antonio lawyer, helped begin Southwest, he put staff first, prospects second and shareholders third. If staff had been handled proper, they’d move on good emotions to prospects, he mentioned, and completely satisfied prospects led to the earnings that buyers had been on the lookout for.
My flight attendant mentioned Kelleher’s dedication to staff deserved to be remembered. I couldn’t assist questioning aloud whether or not the buttons, whereas honoring Kelleher, had been additionally symbolic of staff’ emotions towards Southwest’s present administration.
The flight attendant mentioned she had no ailing feeling towards Kelly. He’s a businessman, serving to Southwest navigate troubled instances throughout a pandemic. However he isn’t Herb, the individuals individual, she famous.
Kelleher was definitely a businessman, too, and a billionaire at that. Southwest made him wealthy. And it was simple to keep away from layoffs, for the reason that low-cost, low-fare airline that Kelleher pioneered was so worthwhile.
After my flight, I sought out Lyn Montgomery, president of Transport Employees Union Native 556, Southwest flight attendants’ Dallas-based chapter. She’s been a flight attendant for 27 years.
She confirmed that the buttons worn by a lot of Southwest’s flight attendants had the twin function of honoring Kelleher whereas expressing frustration at present administration, together with Kelly.
“Individuals really feel the tradition is slipping away,” she mentioned.
The specter of worker layoffs solely aggravated the scenario, she mentioned.
Kelly has rescinded the risk, because of the federal authorities. Congress handed a federal stimulus act in late December that may give Southwest a portion of the $15 billion in new airline grants so long as the provider retains staff on the payroll till March 31.
Prime executives of United Airways have already advised hundreds of laid-off staff who’ve been recalled due to the stimulus they probably will likely be out of labor once more in April.
However Kelly introduced there would no furloughs or pay cuts at Southwest in 2021 due to the help.
You would possibly assume Southwest staff could be happy that their positions seem like secure for now.
They’re. However they’re nonetheless upset that Kelly threatened their jobs in the event that they didn’t comply with wage concessions, significantly as a result of Southwest is in the very best monetary form amongst main U.S. airways.
Southwest had $15 billion in money available, greater than some other airline, as income collapsed throughout the pandemic. Analysts say the airline may repay its $13 billion debt and nonetheless have $2 billion left over.
Southwest spokesman Chris Mainz mentioned Kelly “has been as open, trustworthy and clear as any chief may probably be managing by means of this disaster.”
Kelly labored with and for Kelleher for greater than three many years — in all probability greater than some other individual on the airline. “He has absolutely embraced Herb’s love for our individuals and has put them first in each determination he has made since turning into CEO,” Mainz mentioned.
Which may be, however Montgomery mentioned she will likely be combating to get again to the times when it was extra obvious that Southwest staff had been a part of one, large, completely satisfied crew.
Kelly has been CEO since 2004.
Maybe sometime Southwest flight attendants will consider Kelly fondly.
However for now, Herb Kelleher is the CEO whose picture they put on close to their hearts.
Supply: www.mysanantonio.com
