DALLAS — Southwest Airlines has announced an "unprecedented" mass layoff, cutting over 1,700 jobs. Monday, Southwest announced it is cutting 15% of its corporate and leadership workforce. "This decision is unprecedented in our 53-year history," Southwest President and CEO Bob Jordan said in a statement.

North Texas cities in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex have been hit with thousands of layoffs since the start of the year. In the latest, some 1,750 employees will be laid off from their jobs with Dallas-based Southwest Airlines – a roughly 15% corporate workforce reduction for the company.

The airline's Executive Vice President & Chief Transformation Officer Ryan Green's departure coincides with the company’s first major layoffs in its history. Southwest said his departure is unrelated to the 11 senior officials laid off earlier this week.