Southwest also has embarked on a three-year plan to evolve its offerings, including introducing assigned seating—another first for the carrier—and the creation of an extended legroom product, both of which are designed to bolster the carrier’s revenue.

Southwest Airlines' first company-wide layoffs in its nearly 54-year history are aimed at shoring up profits, but they run the risk of undermining a company culture of putting employees first that made it stand out from rivals and cultivated a loyal fan base.

About 600 of those employees are at the company's Dallas headquarters and maintenance facility. The company said the layoffs will save about $210 million this year.