USA TODAY International Edition
Southwest cuts peanuts on flights
Southwest Airlines will stop serving peanuts on its flights this summer, nixing a snack that has been nearly synonymous with the carrier itself.
The Dallas-based airline says it’s making the change to help protect passengers who have peanut allergies.
Southwest has used peanuts as part of its marketing.
Southwest’s corporate blog once went by the name “Nuts about Southwest.” Even a 1998 book about the company was titled, “Nuts!: Southwest Airlines’ Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success.”
But the airline’s connection with peanuts as an in-flight snack will come to an end in August.
“Peanuts forever will be part of Southwest’s history and DNA,” Southwest said in a statement to USA TODAY’s Today in the Sky.
“However, to ensure the best onboard experience for everyone, especially for customers with peanut-related allergies, we’ve made the difficult decision to discontinue serving peanuts on all flights beginning August 1.”
The move comes as awareness of peanut allergies has increased, especially in the context of the confined space of airplane cabins. Even trace amounts can cause complications.
For Southwest, the elimination of peanuts does not mean that the carrier is doing away with free snacks. Instead, the airline will now serve pretzels. Other complimentary snacks, such as cookies, will be offered on some of the company’s longer routes.