--- description: The decision comes amid animal-rights backlash, but the two companies insist the break is "mutual" title: So Long, Shamu image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt003cb0b84309b752/69869e10cd804d9b72ccc319/seaworld.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Companies](/tag/companies/) ## Companies Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # So Long, Shamu: Southwest, SeaWorld End Ties by [David Stout](/author/david-stout/) ## David Stout Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Aug 1, 2014 8:25 AM CUT  Southwest Airlines debuts its newest specialty plane, Penguin One, in celebration of 25 years of partnership with SeaWorld on June 20, 2013 Southwest Airlines debuts its newest specialty plane, Penguin One, in celebration of 25 years of partnership with SeaWorld on June 20, 2013Stephen M. Keller—Southwest Airlines/AP by [David Stout](/author/david-stout/) ## David Stout Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Aug 1, 2014 8:25 AM CUT Southwest Airlines and SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment will be [ending](http://www.swamedia.com/releases/statement-on-southwest-and-seaworld-partnership?l=en-US "undefined") their 26-year relationship, a decision that comes a year after a documentary film raised questions about the theme-park chain’s treatment of whales. In a joint statement released on Thursday, the two sides described the decision to end their decades-long co-marketing scheme as “mutual.” “The companies decided not to renew the contract based on shifting priorities,” read the statement, explaining that the airliner would focus on expanding into international service while SeaWorld is eyeing new opportunities to grow in Asian and Latin American markets. The press release made no mention of the pressure both companies have faced since the release of the film _Blackfish_ last year. The documentary focuses on the alleged mistreatment of SeaWorld orcas and the violent deaths of several trainers working with the animals. A [petition](http://www.change.org/petitions/southwest-airlines-stop-promoting-seaworld-animal-cruelty "undefined") posted on Change.org calling on Southwest to terminate its relationship with the Florida-based amusement-park chain garnered 30,000 signatures. Attendance at SeaWorld parks dropped 4.1% in the last year, [according to](http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-theme-park-attendance-20140604-story.html "undefined") the Los Angeles _Times_. The three Southwest aircraft painted to promote the amusement parks will return to the company’s traditional livery by year’s end. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3069051/so-long-shamu-southwest-seaworld-end-ties/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3069051/so-long-shamu-southwest-seaworld-end-ties/"},"headline":"So Long, Shamu: Southwest, SeaWorld End Ties","datePublished":"2014-08-01T08:25:41.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-21T09:27:30.913Z","description":"The decision comes amid animal-rights backlash, but the two companies insist the break is \"mutual\"","url":"https://time.com/3069051/so-long-shamu-southwest-seaworld-end-ties/","keywords":["Companies","Aviation","Animal Rights","SeaWorld","Southwest Airlines"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt003cb0b84309b752/69869e10cd804d9b72ccc319/seaworld.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"David Stout","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/david-stout/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt003cb0b84309b752/69869e10cd804d9b72ccc319/seaworld.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Southwest Airlines debuts Penguin One in celebration of 25 years","caption":"Southwest Airlines debuts Penguin One in celebration of 25 years","creditText":"Stephen M. Keller—Southwest Airlines/AP","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/companies/","name":"Companies"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3069051/so-long-shamu-southwest-seaworld-end-ties/","name":"So Long, Shamu: Southwest, SeaWorld End Ties"}}]}] ```