The Southwest Airlines team at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) was awarded the Most Reliable Small Station award at the company’s Annual Station Awards Banquet on February 29, 2024. 

• The VPS team ranked first among the 70 small stations in Southwest’s system based on their exceptional performance in reliability, which includes on-time performance and baggage handling.

Southwest Airlines holds an annual awards banquet to recognize the outstanding performance of its stations across the country. Stations are grouped by similar levels of flight activity and are ranked within categories such as Safety, On-time Performance, Baggage Handling, and Customer Satisfaction. 

“Our Team takes great pride in delivering an excellent product to our Customers,” said Adam McKee, Station Manager for Southwest at VPS. “We understand a large number of our Customers are tourists coming to enjoy our beautiful beaches, but we also want to show love to the locals that we share the community with on a daily basis. Our goal is to connect People to what’s important in their lives, and we know that can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. The best way we can do that for everyone is by keeping our Customers’ flights On-time, with their bags, and with friendly interactions along the way.”

Southwest Airlines began service at VPS in May 2021, making this the first award the VPS team has received since their inception. The team, consisting of 35-40 people, focuses on taking care of each other to ensure they are at their best when serving customers.

• “The Southwest Team at VPS consists of a diverse, hard-working group of individuals that considers ourselves a family,” McKee said. “We focus on taking care of each other, so that we are all at our best to spread the love to our customers. Our employees understand their roles and how what they do every day impacts the overall success of our team.”

The partnership and support of the airport have also played a crucial role in the team’s success. “It’s truly a team effort between the Airport and Southwest Airlines,” McKee acknowledged.

• “The improvements made by the Airport over the past few years have greatly improved the customer experience at VPS and upgraded the ability for our Southwest Airlines Employees to provide an increased level of hospitality to our customers. Thanks to the Airport’s commitment to improving and maintaining the facility, our team is able to focus more on our customers and less on any outside challenges.”

With the airport’s commitment to improving and maintaining the facility, the Southwest Airlines team at VPS can focus more on their customers and continue to deliver exceptional service, according to McKee. 

As the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport continues to grow and attract more visitors, this award means a great deal to Airports Director Tracy Stage.

“The Most Reliable Small Station award is a significant achievement for both the Southwest Airlines team at VPS and the airport as a whole,” said Tracy Stage, Airports Director. “It demonstrates our shared commitment to operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and the growth of our region. We are proud to have Southwest Airlines as a VPS family member and key partner in our ongoing efforts to provide the best passenger experience.”