Michael AuBuchon

Michael joined Southwest in 2000 as a Manager – Properties (now Airport Affairs). In 2004, Michael assumed a new role at the Company as an Attorney in the General Counsel Department, with a promotion to Sr. Attorney in 2009. For 11 years, he worked with Southwest’s Airport Affairs and Corporate Facilities Departments on many of the Company’s major airport projects and initiatives, including slot and gate acquisitions (EWR, LGA and DCA); Love Field Modernization Program/Wright Amendment Reform Act; and international terminal expansions (HOU and FLL). After Southwest’s acquisition of AirTran, Michael began working to obtain international operating authorities in Southwest’s name – with a particular focus on Mexico and Costa Rica operations.

In 2015, Michael accepted a new role as Director of Fuel Supply Chain Management (FSCM), was promoted to Senior Director in 2018, and now serves as Managing Director – Fuel Strategy & Management. Michael’s Team manages billions of dollars in Company spend through management of billions of gallons of jet fuel, including planning, scheduling, logistics, on- and off-airport storage/fuel consortia management, into-plane management, fuel quality and compliance, and fuel automation support/fuel accounting. Michael’s Team is also responsible for Southwest’s exploration, planning, and ultimate deployment of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) – further to Southwest’s goal to replace 10% of total jet fuel consumption with SAF by 2030 and to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Michael was the lead negotiator for Southwest’s $30 million equity investment into LanzaJet, and his Team is leading the Company’s partnership with LanzaJet on an ethanol-to-SAF facility to be built primarily for Southwest’s benefit. Michael also serves as a LanzaJet Board Observer.

Michael is a 1995 graduate of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma (Bachelor of Science, Aviation Sciences, with honors) and a 1999 graduate of Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa (Juris Doctorate). He has been a Texas-licensed attorney since 1999.