Blunt appointed to Southwest Airlines board

Former U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, has been named to the board of Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV).

Blunt's appointment to the board of the Dallas-based airline is effective July 16, according to a news release.

"Roy's leadership as a public servant — most notably in the Senate where he provided critical oversight of the aviation industry in areas of operations and innovation, combined with his background in education — will be a tremendous benefit to our board," said Gary Kelly, Southwest Airlines executive board chair, in the release. "His knowledge and expertise, along with his broad experience spanning health care, infrastructure and national security, will add valuable perspectives and thought leadership as we continue to expand and bolster our board with proven, established leaders."

Blunt is one of 15 board members listed on Southwest's investor relations website. For the year ended Dec. 31, 2022, Southwest Airlines board members' compensation was around $300,000, dependent on fees earned and stock awards, according to the company's annual proxy statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

While working in the Senate, Blunt's committee assignments included the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Operations, and Innovation; the Committee on Intelligence; and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, according to the release.

In December 2022, the Springfield-Branson National Airport named its main terminal the Roy Blunt Terminal in honor of his support of the industry, according to past reporting. Blunt supported the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that was enacted in November 2021 and provided $25 billion over five years for airport projects around the country. In 2020, he helped to secure a $7 million Airport Improvement Program grant for the Springfield airport.