Hyderabad: Southwest Airlines launched its first Global Innovation Centre outside the United States in Hyderabad through its wholly owned subsidiary, Southwest Airlines India Private Limited.
Telangana IT and Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu inaugurated the new office on Wednesday.
The Southwest Airlines Hyderabad facility marked the company’s first-ever Global Innovation Centre outside the United States. The company said the move reflected its long-term commitment to Hyderabad and Telangana’s growing position as a global innovation destination.
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The Global Innovation Centre will function as a strategic hub supporting technology, engineering and enterprise capabilities for aviation operations. The centre will focus on deeptech, AI and machine learning, data science, analytics, cybersecurity, digital engineering and enterprise platforms.
According to the company, the Hyderabad facility will scale to more than 1,000 high-skilled engineers and technology professionals over the coming years.
During the inauguration, Sridhar Babu and Telangana IT Advisor Sai Krishna met Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer Lauren Woods, Vice President and Global Head of Innovation Krishna Kallepalli and senior company representatives. The discussions focused on the airline’s long-term growth plans in Hyderabad and Telangana’s role as a global hub for aviation technology and enterprise innovation.
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Sridhar Babu said Hyderabad laid the foundation for India’s modern aviation ecosystem more than 25 years ago through one of the country’s first private airport initiatives under the public-private partnership model.
He stated that Hyderabad had evolved into a major aviation, aerospace and space-tech hub alongside institutions such as DRDO, RCI and DMRL. The Minister added that several multinational companies selected Hyderabad for their first innovation centres in India during the last year.
He said Southwest Airlines’ decision to establish its innovation centre in Hyderabad reflected the city’s strategic importance in aviation engineering, mobility and next-generation technology innovation.
The Minister also highlighted recent investments by global companies including BASF, Vanguard, Marriott International, HCA Healthcare and Hartford, which established innovation and capability centres in Hyderabad.
Lauren Woods said Hyderabad offered one of the world’s deepest talent pools in analytics, engineering and innovation. She stated that the Hyderabad office would help Southwest Airlines strengthen global business operations and long-term growth.
Krishna Kallepalli said the Hyderabad centre would build capabilities in AI, data and next-generation engineering to support Southwest Airlines’ global operations.
The company stated that the Hyderabad centre would support engineering, analytics, automation, cybersecurity, digital platforms and operational innovation. Hyderabad currently hosts more than 450 Global Capability Centres employing over 1.35 lakh professionals across multiple sectors.
✈️Southwest Airlines Launches First-Ever Global Innovation Centre Outside the U.S. in Hyderabad
✈️Southwest Airlines one of the largest airlines in the United States, has launched its first India Global Innovation Centre in Hyderabad through its wholly owned subsidiary,… pic.twitter.com/hsEagZGL4n
— IPRDepartment (@IPRTelangana) May 20, 2026