NEW YORK (Reuters) -Elliott Investment Management is expected to launch a board room challenge at Southwest Airlines ( LUV ), nominating as many as 10 director candidates as the hedge fund wants the company to oust its chief executive officer and improve performance, sources said on Tuesday.

The hedge fund has been interviewing candidates for the 15-member board, the people said.

Elliott said in a regulatory filing last week that it has a 7% beneficial ownership, putting it closer to the stake required to call a special meeting where shareholders could vote on candidates.

The hedge fund has been pushing to replace both CEO Robert Jordan and Executive Chairman Gary Kelly, who had been CEO before Jordan.