DALLAS, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines today
announced that it is refining its schedule beginning May 10, 2008. Through
the elimination of 40 existing roundtrip flights from its May flight schedule,
Southwest today will add 49 roundtrip flights in key growth markets such as
Denver. Many of the changes will be seasonal to accommodate peak summer
demand. For a complete listing of the flight changes go to:
http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/press/080109_chart.pdf.
"Southwest Airlines is concerned about slowing economic growth, and we
want our flight schedule to be built around flights that are in high demand,"
said Gary Kelly, Southwest Airlines Chief Executive Officer. "Our Employees
continually evaluate our flights to see how we can offer our Customers the
most efficient flight schedule in the business."
Southwest Airlines is offering special fares for all new nonstop service.
For a complete list of fares visit http://www.southwest.com/?src=PR_NS_010908.
Fares are as low as $79 one-way with a 14-day advance purchase and as low as
$99 one-way with a 21-day advance purchase. Fares apply only to new service.
See fare rules below.
"Southwest is intent on strategically changing its flight schedule in 2008
to reflect demand and grow revenue -- even adding seasonal flights when we
can," Kelly said. "We've improved our boarding procedures and updated our gate
areas to make our Customers more productive, and we look forward to 2008 as
being one of the most productive yet for Southwest Airlines."
Southwest is the only U.S. airline to remain consistently profitable this
decade, and enjoys an unprecedented string of 34 consecutive years of
profitability. Southwest has a low cost structure, strong balance sheet, and
the most comprehensive fuel hedge of any major U.S. airline.
After almost 37 years of service, Southwest Airlines continues to
differentiate itself from other low fare carriers -- offering a reliable
product with impeccable Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the most
productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a productive traveling
experience. Southwest recently updated its gate areas and improved its
boarding procedure to make flying Southwest convenient and simple. Southwest
Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic
passengers enplaned, currently serves 64 cities in 32 states. Based in Dallas,
Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has more than
33,000 Employees systemwide.
Fare Rules:
All fares are available for purchase today for travel beginning May 10,
2008, through Aug. 3, 2008. The new nonstop flights between Denver and San
Jose, St. Louis, Raleigh-Durham, San Antonio, and Philadelphia require a
14-day advance purchase. The new nonstop flights between Austin and Ft.
Lauderdale, between Ft. Lauderdale and Manchester, and between Denver and Los
Angeles require a 21-day advance purchase. The new nonstop flights between
Jacksonville and Las Vegas, between Austin and Oakland, and between Nashville
and Norfolk require a 14-day advance purchase and are available for purchase
today through May 10, 2008. Sale fares apply only to new service and are only
available at http://www.southwest.com. Fares are available one-way and are
combinable with all other fares (except Senior Fares). When combining fares,
all ticketing restrictions apply. Seats are limited. Fares may vary by
destination and day of travel and will not be available on some flights that
operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods. Fares do not
include a federal segment tax of $3.50 per takeoff and landing. Fares do not
include airport-assessed passenger facility charges (PFC) of up to $4.50
one-way and U.S. government-imposed September 11th Security Fees of up to
$2.50 one-way. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Tickets are
nonrefundable but may be applied toward the purchase of future travel on
Southwest Airlines if unused. Fares are valid only on Southwest-published,
scheduled service and are not available through the Group Desk. Any change in
itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Standby travel requires an
upgrade to the full unrestricted fare. Fares are not necessarily common rated
in the Washington, D.C. area (Baltimore/Washington and Dulles), the Bay Area
(Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose), or the Los Angeles Basin. Orange
County and Washington D.C. (Dulles) are not included.
SOURCE Southwest Airlines
Public Relations of Southwest Airlines, +1-214-792-4847
