How Southwest Airlines Tarnished Its Brand (Episode 010 - The Marketing Gateway podcast)

Southwest Airlines used to be one of the most beloved airlines in North America and one of the poster children of business school case studies. But recently, they've been under the control of an activist investor hedge fund and have been forced to become like every other airline... a move customers hate and that is ruining their brand.Why did Southwest make these decisions, and what should they do to correct their course?The Marketing Gateway is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean in St. Louis (Sean J. Jordan, President of The Research & Planning Group, Inc.) and featuring guests from the St. Louis area and beyond.Every week, Sean shares insights about the world of marketing and speaks to people who are working in various marketing roles - creative agencies, brand managers, MarCom professionals, PR pros, business owners, academics, entrepreneurs, researchers and more!The goal of The Marketing Gateway is simple - we want to build a connection between all of our marketing mentors in the Midwest and learn from one another! And the best way to learn is to listen.And the next best way is to share!For more episodes:https://www.themarketinggateway.comCopyright 2025, The Research & Planning Group, Inc.