Southwest Airlines agent organizes fashion show at Nashville Airport

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Southwest Airlines agent organizes fashion show at Nashville Airport

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By Sky Industry News

Nov 23, 2024

Holiday travel is increasing as passengers across the United States begin their journeys. In Nashville, a Southwest Airlines gate agent added some excitement to the usual waiting time at the airport by organizing an impromptu fashion show.

Oscar Gonzalez, a Southwest Airlines Gate Agent, transformed the boarding area into a makeshift runway at Nashville Airport. This event, which featured both passengers and employees, went viral on TikTok. Gonzalez's goal is to create an atmosphere filled with happiness and love for travelers. He believes that when he acts as an emcee and engages everyone in gate games, passengers board faster.

Gonzalez shared his thoughts with Good Morning America: "It's a celebration that brings everyone together. Everyone is energized and grateful and I've noticed they board faster and happier when I do the gate games. I want anxiety to come down for everyone getting on these flights and if playing a family-friendly Disney song will help a mom board with her kids, I want to do that."

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The video showed passengers chanting, clapping, and cheering for those participating in the 'catwalk', demonstrating camaraderie at the airport.

These kinds of viral moments are common during the holiday season. Often during Christmas, talented gate agents or passengers sing carols over microphones at airports, which also gain attention on social media.

Airlines often support such events as they provide free advertising and social media engagement without additional costs. For example, WestJet has its Christmas Miracle campaign during this period.

As 2024 comes to an end, air travel numbers are expected to break records again due to holiday travel. AAA Travel estimates around 5.84 million people will fly domestically from November 26th to December 2nd this year—a 2% increase from last year and 11% more than in 2019. With rising demand comes increased airfare; research indicates ticket prices are up by 3% compared to last year.

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