Southwest Airlines

The U.S. Department of Justice said it supports a lawsuit accusing Southwest Airlines of discrimination from a program offering free flights to low-income Latino students.

The carrier announced Tuesday that it will begin charging certain passengers to check their luggage on flights, a significant shift at the company long prized by consumers for its perks.

The allegations are part of a lawsuit that accuses San Antonio officials of unlawfully excluding Southwest Airlines from gate assignments in San Antonio International Airport's new Terminal C.

The case is filed against the U.S. Department of Transportation, and it’s unclear whether the Trump administration will defend it.

The airline's Executive Vice President & Chief Transformation Officer Ryan Green's departure coincides with the company’s first major layoffs in its history. Southwest said his departure is unrelated to the 11 senior officials laid off earlier this week.

The agency is seeking civil penalties against Southwest Airlines, and also fined Frontier Airlines for its continuous delays.

Pilots say they were left in the dark about Boeing's defective 737 MAX, which their union's collective bargaining agreement required them to fly.

Beginning on Dec. 4, flight attendants will start preparing the cabin for landing at an altitude of 18,000 feet instead of 10,000 feet. For passengers, that means returning their seats to an upright position and other pre-landing procedures earlier than before.

The Dallas-based airline announced six new independent directors after facing months of pressure from investment management firm Elliott.

The Dallas-based carrier hopes to return to profitability with its new assigned seating model and a handful of new red-eye flights.