After 25 years with Southwest Airlines, most recently heading up Southwest Business as vice president and chief sales officer, Dave Harvey on Saturday announced on LinkedIn that he will depart Southwest. The airline said May 17 will be Harvey's last day.
Dave Harvey
Two days after Harvey announced his departure, private aviation company Wheels Up announced he would join on May 20 as chief commercial officer. Harvey will relocate to Atlanta for the position.
Delta Air Lines in 2020 merged its Delta Private Jets business into Wheels Up, and the company in the past year has experienced significant changes. In August 2023, the company received a $500 million lifeline from Delta and investment firms Certares and Knighthead after it announced there was "substantial doubt" it could continue absent additional near-term funding.
Current CEO George Mattson came on board in October after founder and former CEO Kenny Dichter stepped down in May 2023. Mattson previously was on Delta's board of directors. Wheels Up in February reorganized its operations team, adding and promoting several former Delta executives.
Southwest said it was grateful for Harvey's 25 years of service, "including leading Southwest Business from inception to where it is today."
Southwest in 2016 moved corporate sales to a new business function, headed by Harvey as managing director of business development. Over the next eight years, Harvey oversaw such changes as launching a business version of the carrier's loyalty program Rapid Rewards, adding Southwest content into the three major GDSs, launching its Business Assist portal and revamping its meetings product.
Southwest said it is "working through transition plans" and did not share additional details.
Source: Business Travel News