After dedicating 25 years of his career to Southwest Airlines, Dave Harvey recently made a significant announcement on LinkedIn. On Saturday, he shared the news of his departure from Southwest, where he served as the vice president and chief sales officer. According to the airline, Harvey’s last day will be on May 17th.
Shortly after revealing his exit from Southwest, Harvey disclosed that he would be joining Wheels Up as the chief commercial officer on May 20th. This transition will require him to relocate to Atlanta for his new position. This move comes at a time when Wheels Up has undergone substantial transformations, notably following the merger with Delta Air Lines’ Delta Private Jets business.
In response to the dynamic changes within Wheels Up, the company secured a $500 million lifeline from Delta Air Lines, along with investment firms Certares and Knighthead. These financial arrangements were crucial for Wheels Up, especially after concerns were raised about its ability to sustain operations without additional funding. The appointment of George Mattson as the current CEO marked another significant shift, as the company’s founder and former CEO, Kenny Dichter, stepped down in May 2023.
As part of its restructuring efforts, Wheels Up revamped its operations team in February, welcoming a cadre of new talent, including former executives from Delta Air Lines. This strategic move aimed to streamline operations and leverage industry expertise to drive innovation and growth within the organization.
Southwest Airlines expressed gratitude for Dave Harvey’s quarter-century of dedicated service, particularly recognizing his pivotal role in establishing and leading Southwest Business from its inception to its current standing. His contributions to the corporate sales function, which was transitioned to a new business division in 2016 under his leadership, have left a lasting impact on the company’s trajectory.
Dave Harvey’s departure from Southwest Airlines signifies the end of an era marked by his instrumental contributions to the airline’s success. As he embarks on a new chapter at Wheels Up, the industry will be watching closely to see how his expertise and leadership shape the future of private aviation.