Southwest Airlines Sued for Discrimination Over Free Flights Program for Hispanic Students

On May 21, 2024, the American Alliance for Equal Rights filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines, alleging that the airline's ¡Lánzate! Travel Award Program for low-income Hispanic students violates federal civil rights laws. The program offers free round-trip flights to Hispanic undergraduate and graduate students who may not be able to afford air travel on their own.

The lawsuit is backed by Edward Blum, a prominent anti-affirmative action advocate. Blum's group claims that the program discriminates by excluding non-Hispanic students from applying. They are seeking a federal court injunction in Dallas to stop the airline from using race as an eligibility criterion for the program.

Established in 2004, the ¡Lánzate! Travel Award Program has provided free round-trip tickets to over 1,500 Hispanic students attending academic institutions at least 200 miles from their homes. The program is a collaboration between Southwest Airlines and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). The HACU, a non-profit organization, received over $400 million in federal funding in 2023.

Blum's lawsuit contends that the program should be open to all students regardless of their race or ethnic background. Southwest Airlines has stated it is reviewing the lawsuit, while HACU has not commented.

Blum's organization has a history of challenging educational and corporate diversity programs, having previously targeted race-conscious admissions policies at American universities. The current lawsuit represents Blum's first attempt to challenge the philanthropic practices of a major company.