SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO

11. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On July 2, 2024, the Company's Board of Directors (the “Board”) adopted a shareholder rights plan and declared a dividend ofone right (a “Right”) in respect of each of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share (“Common Stock”). The dividend is payable to the shareholders of record at the close of business on July 15, 2024. Each Right initially entitles the registered holder, subject to the terms of the Rights Agreement (as defined below), to purchase from the Company one ten-thousandth (a “Unit”) of a share of Common Stock, at a price equal to the quotient of $170.00 divided by ten thousand for each Unit of a share of Common Stock, subject to certain adjustments (as adjusted from time to time, the “Exercise Price”). The terms of the Rights are set forth in the Rights Agreement, dated as of July 2, 2024 (as it may be amended from time to time, the “Rights Agreement”), by and between the Company and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, as rights agent (or any successor rights agent, the “Rights Agent”).

The adoption of the Rights Agreement is intended to deter the acquisition of actual, de facto, or negative control of the Company by any person or group without appropriately compensating its Shareholders for that control. In general terms, the Rights Agreement imposes significant dilution upon any person or group (other than the Company or certain related persons) that is or becomes the beneficial owner of 12.5 percent (the “Triggering Percentage”) or more of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock without the prior approval of the Board. A person or group that becomes the beneficial owner of the Triggering Percentage or more is called an “Acquiring Person.” Any Rights held by an Acquiring Person will be null and void and may not be exercised. Shareholders that beneficially own the Triggering Percentage or more of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock on the date the plan is adopted, are not considered Acquiring Persons; however, such Shareholders generally may not acquire, or obtain the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of one or more additional shares of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock. The term “beneficial ownership” is defined in the Rights Agreement and includes, among other things, certain securities that may be exercised or converted into shares of Common Stock and certain derivative arrangements.

The Rights will expire prior to the earliest of (i) the close of business on July 1, 2025; (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed pursuant to the Rights Agreement; (iii) the time at which the Rights are exchanged pursuant to the Rights Agreement; and (iv) upon the occurrence of certain transactions.

This description of the Rights Agreement herein does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 3, 2024.