Skywest, Inc. - 1792 Exchange

Rating Overview

Skywest, Inc. is Medium Risk.

Skywest, Inc. often yields to political activism in shaping corporate governance, potentially alienating consumers, dividing employees, and harming shareholders. The company implements race and identity-based policies that replace merit, excellence, and integrity with preferential treatment and outcomes. Skywest occasionally embraces corporate initiatives that redirect its central focus from business goals to partisan policies and divisive issues at times. This approach fails to safeguard free exercise, free speech, and free enterprise.

Rating Criteria

Corporate Weaponization Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Cancellations	Medium Risk
Discriminatory Philanthropy	High Risk
Employment Protection	High Risk

Corporate Weaponization ⓘ

Corporate Governance and Public Policy Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Advocacy Bias	High Risk
Funding	Lower Risk
Political Actions	Lower Risk

Corporate Governance and Public Policy ⓘ

Rating Criteria Detail

Criteria Risk Level Rationale

Corporate Weaponization

Criteria:

Has canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level:

Medium

Rationale:

SkyWest received a score of 25 on the 2025 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. The company recruits employees based on sexual identity issues. The company discriminates against vendors that do not promote divisive sex and gender policies, indicating it prioritizes sexual issues over merit (1)(2). The company integrates ESG into its business practices. From its 2026 Proxy Statement: ” A portion of the Named Executives’ annual cash incentives is based on achievement of ESG initiatives completed during the 2025 year” (3). SkyWest integrates ESG into its business practices. From its Vendor Code of Conduct: “Vendors must have policies and programs designed to lessen their environmental impact, reduce waste, and foster social and economic development of the communities in which they operate” (4). The company promotes divisive sex and gender policies. Its Vendor Code of Conduct requires international vendors to include sexual orientation and gender identity in their nondiscrimination policy (5). However, SkyWest has not publicly canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (6).

Criteria:

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

SkyWest will not match gifts to “religious institutions” (1).

Criteria:

Employment policies fail to protect against viewpoint or other discrimination and/or are ideological in nature.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

SkyWest requires its employees to take diversity and inclusion training (1). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its leadership composition. From its 2025 Proxy Statement: ” In considering a potential new candidate, the Board considers whether the candidate would increase the Board’s ethnic, gender or cultural diversity. The consideration of diversity permeates all discussions of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee” (2). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its recruitment. From its 2024 ESG Report: “We support and attend recruiting events hosted by several organizations in efforts to expand our diverse workforce including: Women in Aviation, Professional Asian Pilots Association, Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, National Gay Pilot Association, Urban
League Job Fair and other organizations” (3). SkyWest is an affirmative action employer. From its Equal Opportunity Employer webpage: “SkyWest maintains an Affirmative Action Plan, including active employment of minorities, women,
veterans, and individuals with disabilities” (4). In 2026, SkyWest rebranded its DEI training as “Maintaining a Productive Work Environment” training; however, it remains unclear whether the underlying divisive corporate policies/practices materially changed following the rebrand (5). The company does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (6).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy

Criteria:

Uses corporate reputation to support causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

SkyWest’s CEO Russell A. “Chip” Childs signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, which includes a commitment to promote DEI through bias education training in the workplace, strategize on DEI programs/initiatives with other signatories, and engage boards of directors when developing and evaluating DEI strategies (1)(2). SkyWest supports DEI within its business practices. From its 2024 ESG Report: “We strive to embrace the individual differences
and unique capabilities and talents of our workforce through diversity and inclusion
policies and initiatives” (3). The company supports ESG within its business practices. From its 2026 ESG Report: ” Our ESG priorities are part of our company risk management, strategy, and financial planning considerations” (4).

Criteria:

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

SkyWest has not used corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (1).

Criteria:

Uses corporate political actions and/or financial contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

SkyWest does not operate a PAC at this time and has not used its lobbying for ideological purposes (1)(2)(3).