Southwest Airlines one of the world’s most admired airlines with more than five decades of delivering reliable air travel coupled with a strong People-first culture, announced the opening of its Hyderabad Office. The new facility will serve as the airline’s Global Innovation Center (GIC) and marks a significant step in expanding its global business and technology capabilities, supported by Southwest® Employees based in Hyderabad through a wholly owned subsidiary, Southwest Airlines India Private Limited.
The Hyderabad Office will plug seamlessly into Southwest’s global network, bringing together business functions, engineering, analytics, and technology expertise to advance the airline’s ability to deliver reliable, secure, and efficient operations. The Office will contribute to the development of next-generation business and technology solutions and strengthen Southwest’s broader innovation roadmap, including capabilities in artificial intelligence, data, and digital platforms.
The Center was inaugurated by Shri Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology, Electronics, and Communications, Industries & Commerce and Legislative Affairs, Government of Telangana, along with Laura Williams, US Consulate General, Hyderabad and Mr. Sai Krishna, IT Advisor, Government of Telangana.
Representing Southwest were Woods; Tom Merritt, Vice President & Chief Technology Officer; Lindsey Lang, Vice President People; Krishna Kallepalli, Vice President & Global Head of Innovation, India; and Pooja Verma, Director Human Resources Business Partner Global.
Shri Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology, Electronics, Communications, Industries & Commerce, and Legislative Affairs, Government of Telangana said, “More than 25 years ago, Hyderabad laid the foundation for India’s modern aviation ecosystem with one of the country’s first private airport initiatives under the PPP model. Since then, the city has evolved into one of India’s leading aviation, aerospace, and space-tech hubs. Alongside prestigious institutions such as DRDO, RCI, and DMRL, Hyderabad is steadily emerging as a strategic center where aviation, space tech, defense, and deep-tech are converging at scale. Over the last year alone, several global enterprises have chosen Hyderabad as the location for their first innovation centers in India, reinforcing the city’s growing reputation as a hub for advanced engineering and innovation. Southwest Airlines’ decision to establish its Global Innovation Centre here further reflects Hyderabad’s strategic importance in shaping the future of global mobility, aviation engineering, aerospace, and next-generation technology innovation.”
