Southwest Airlines, SeaWorld end partnership after 26 years
As part of its partnership with Seaworld, Southwest Airlines painted killer whales on the side of several airplanes. This is “Shamu One,” a Boeing 737-300 that debuted in 1988.
SeaWorld and Southwest Airlines are ending their quarter-century partnership. Here’s the joint statement from Southwest Airlines and SeaWorld:
Southwest and SeaWorld have mutually decided not to renew their partnership when the contract expires at the end of the year. Our promotional marketing relationship began in 1988 and was one of the first of its kind – focused on co-marketing opportunities between Southwest passengers and SeaWorld visitors.
The companies decided not to renew the contract based on shifting priorities. Southwest is spreading its wings with new international service, and increased focus on local market efforts. With an increasing international visitor base, SeaWorld is looking to focus on new and growing markets in Latin America and Asia, among others.
The companies will continue to work together through Southwest Vacations. Southwest’s three specialty airplanes will return to the company’s traditional livery.
Southwest and SeaWorld have enjoyed their long relationship, and wish each other continued success.
The statement makes no mention of the pressure applied on Southwest Airlines by animal rights’ activists who wanted the carrier to cut off its partnership with SeaWorld.
A petition on Change.org asking Southwest to end its SeaWorld partnership had attracted more than 30,000 signatures. In a January response to the petition, a Southwest spokeswoman said the airline was “currently in a multi-year contract with SeaWorld, and we are not contemplating changes to that at this time.”
“I love Southwest, but I stopped flying with them when I learned about their partnership with SeaWorld,” petition organizer, Robin Merritt said in a statement after Southwest announced its decision Thursday.
“I started my petition on Change.org because Blackfish got so many people talking about how these orcas are confined to tiny tanks, and then 32,000 people joined me. I’m so ecstatic. This just goes to show that companies do really value customers’ opinions, and I thank Southwest for listening to us and making this decision,” Merritt said.
“Blackfish” was a 2013 documentary film that was critical of SeaWorld’s use, training and exhibition of killer whales, or orcas, at its parks.
PETA, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, celebrated the news as well Thursday. PETA has been pressuring Southwest for three years to end its marketing agreement with SeaWorld.
“Champagne corks were popping at PETA today when we heard that Southwest will no longer support SeaWorld and will repaint its planes,” PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk said in a statement.
“While we travel all the time, the orcas and other animals at SeaWorld are imprisoned for life, with no opportunity to return to their ocean homes or see their families again. The second I heard the good news, I knew that I’d be booking my next trip on Southwest—and kind people around the world no doubt feel the same,” Newkirk said.
Southwest announced its partnership with SeaWorld as the Dallas airline rolled out its first SeaWorld-themed airplane, Shamu One, in May 1988. The first aircraft was followed by Shamu Two in May 1990 and Shamu Three in September 1990.
When Southwest retired the Shamu One livery, it replaced it in the SeaWorld partnership with Penguin One in June 2013.
The distinctive black and white whales were painted nose to tail on the side of the Shamu airplanes, with “SeaWorld Adventure Park” lettered above the airplanes’ forward windows.