Elliott Investment Management has now acquired 10% of Southwest Airlines' common stock, enabling the hedge fund to call a special meeting at the airline. This development comes just days before a scheduled meeting on September 9 to discuss strategies for addressing issues that have led to a significant decline in Southwest's stock value, which has dropped by nearly 50% over the past three years. Elliott, a prominent activist investor managing $70 billion in assets, has called for the ousting of CEO Robert Jordan and Executive Chairman Gary Kelly, and plans to nominate 10 directors to the airline's 15-person board.

The warrant for a special meeting represents a major escalation in Elliott's campaign against Southwest, particularly following the disputed results of the July 28 election, where the national electoral authority declared Maduro the victor, while opposition claims suggest otherwise. The hedge fund had previously held an 11% economic stake through derivatives but converted enough of those holdings into common shares to surpass the 10% threshold. Despite the airline's efforts to improve its image and stock performance, including adding more legroom and moving to assigned seating, Elliott has criticized these measures as insufficient and too late.

Southwest's management, led by Jordan, has expressed a willingness to confront Elliott's demands, with Jordan stating he has no intention of resigning. The airline has also implemented a shareholder rights plan to limit the ability of any investor to acquire more than 12.5% of its stock, a defensive move against Elliott's growing influence. As tensions rise, the outcome of the upcoming discussions and potential special meeting could significantly impact the future direction of Southwest Airlines.