SOUTHWEST AIRLINES ANNOUNCES INTENT TO SERVE SOUTH CAROLINA

[cday]

Carrier Selects Charleston and Greenville-Spartanburg--No Subsidies Required

May 11, 2010--Southwest Airlines today announced its intent to serve the state of South Carolina—without subsidies—through the cities of Charleston (CHS) and Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) in 2011. Southwest will release details regarding start dates, destinations and fares, and number of departures at a later date.  The airline’s service will not be dependent on pending legislation to provide air service subsidies. For more information about Southwest Airlines, click here.

“We look forward to serving the Palmetto State with Southwest Airlines’ unique brand of genuine hospitality, great value, a robust and reliable flight network, and our terrific Employees who deliver excellent Customer Service,” said Dave Ridley, Southwest’s senior vice president of marketing and revenue management.  Southwest reported a profitable start to the year with its First Quarter 2010 financial results last month. At that time, Southwest said overall demand for its Low Fares and high quality Customer Service remained strong, resulting in a record first quarter performance for load factor, passenger yield, operating unit revenue, and passenger revenues.  Southwest attributed the notable performance to its network optimization and revenue management efforts, which also have allowed it to grow in destinations without growing its fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft. The carrier intends to continue that growth strategy in 2011, keeping its capacity relatively flat with 2010.  After 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation’s leading low-fare carrier where bags fly free, continues to stand above other airlines—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience with all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) currently serves 68 cities in 35 states and is the largest U.S. carrier, based on domestic passengers carried. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide.www.southwest.com

[Ron_Schrock]

We are excited to hear you will begin flying to Charleston, SC, we have family there and typically fly there each year. We also wish you were flying there this summer as we would have taken SW.

[Zeke]

ALASKA..go to Alaska!! The other carriers stink!!

[Oakland_Gal]

Finally, I have used SouthWest Airlines to visit my daughter in Phili, my sister in Orange County and now I can spend quality time with my Mother-in-law in Anderson, SC. She is 79 and I will need to check up on her and most of our "other" airlines only go to Atlanta. She is not able to drive to meet me so this is fantastic that I can now see her with only a 30minute ride from the airport in Greenville.Thank you, Thank you Southwest Airlines. Can't wait to book a ticket to Greenville/Spartenburg. Oakland Gal

[Carol_A__Lewis]

YEAH!!! We can finally afford and experience easier trips to visit our son in Greenville, SC. I am so glad we have the southwest credit card to purchase many tickets to Greenville, SC!!!

[Diane_B1]

ILM needs you here in Wilmington, NC too!

[Malaney_West]

All I can say is Bless Your Heart! Been waitin a long time for you! Thanks.

[Anonymous1036]

Fantastic......but how about MYR (myrtle Beach)?. Every flight from the NE (bos,Li) would be packed for golfers and vacationing families.

[Dick11]

Fly SWA all the time out BWI. We are currently in the process of moving to Charleston,South Carolina and I cannot tell you how excited to hear the you all are coming here. We love to fly SWA because there is never any hassel even when things go wrong, eg, weather, etc. Plus the attitude of your Flight Attendants is great.

[Anonymous4097]

This is great news. As Clemson parents coming from the Northeast , Greenville/Spartanburg is a wonderful choice for us and our daughter. We also visit the other side of South Carolina so the Charleston area will be great to fly into also. Greenville Airport is a great airport to fly in and out of. Thank you for adding South Carolina !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Charles_Moniott]

I have been inquiring for the past two years about SW offering service to Greenville Spartanburg. I have had to fly Delta for this service. I am so happy that SW will now service this region. Now, I don't have to fly any airline but SW, the airline I own Stock in!!!!!!!!!

[Tony_J_]

Great to hear Southwest is coming to SC. It is correct that Southwest flies into Raleigh, N.C. but Greensboro would be a great choice for it;s next venture here in N.C. but Charlotte would probably be better (since it is a larger metro area -- largest in the state). Charlotte definitely needs competition for US Air and United. So how about it Southwest

[STP]

ITS TIME FOR KNOXVILLE TN!

[btc1959]

I love SW Airlines and only fly with you. I am going to Myrtle Beach in SC in October and since you don't fly there I am flying SW to NC and then taking a rental car from NC to SC. And after my vacation driving back to NC and flying home to Little Rock, AR. Great move guys. Thanks

[Anonymous930]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! 😎

[Anonymous1192]

I am very disspointed you want be flying to columbia,sc. I was waiting for you to start flying to columbia. Please continue to try to come here.I lived in the north east and I Flew southwest all the time. Now I;M hear we need you very bad.

[Ruth_McCracken]

What wonderful news! I am flying to Greenville next week and had to buy tickets from another airline. Next trip I will fly Southwest. hooray!

[Anonymous366]

Thank you SW. I am in Buffalo and my sister and her family are in Spartanburg. Never ever a good fare to GSP and have to fly to Charolette. I feel like I have a double bonus. I can fly to Spartanburg, then the next trip I can go to one of my favorite cites .. Charleston. Love SW and try to always book thru SW where ever we go. You just made my life a whole lot better.

[Hal_Kennel]

Thats great, when are you coming ti Charlotte ?

[Virginia11]

YES YES YES!!! HAVE FAMILY IN BOTH OF THE CAROLINAS!!! LOOKING FOWARD TO THIS!!!

[Anonymous4094]

I love Southwest and would love you even more if you flew from BNA to CLT! PLEASE!!!

[Anonymous1053]

Harrisburg, PA and Melbourne, FL - PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous3791]

Why not Charlotte,NC. I have sons and grandchildren there. If I fly in to Raleigh,it's almost 3hrs drive.

[Anonymous2208]

I am so glad you will be expanding to South Carolina. I love Charleston and looking forwarding to flying Southwest. Our straight through flight to Las Vegas in March was great. Thank you!!!!

[Anonymous2840]

It would be great if your next destination aiport was Sarasota!!!

[Gloria2]

Way to got Southwest!!! I too have relatives near the Charleston area and with your new destinations, you just brought me closer to them....We hope you can make the flights as direct as possible....the sooner I will see my family. We look forward to getting the dates and fare, hopefully soon....Are you sure you couldn't make it for either Thanksgiving or Christmas 2010??? Thanks so much.

[Steven3]

Yes, Please Add Knoxville, TN---we need Southwest in East Tennessee!!!!

[Becky_and__Dave]

We couldn't be happier !! Plan on building our log home in Hendersonville, NC in 2011 and we now can travel from BDL to Greenville,SC on our favorite airline, SOUTHWEST !!!

[Robin2]

Could not be happier that you've chosen SC! Can we be your first passengers on a direct flight to Nashville? Thank You!

[Deanna_McQuilla]

I can't wait until service to SC begins. Having lived in Hilton Head for several years and having to fly in and out of Savannah I know that Southwest will get lots of business flying to Charleston.

[Anonymous2041]

Dont stop at Charleston how about Myrtle Beach S.C.

[Anonymous217]

I second the motion for more service to North Carolina. How about Greensboro/High Point.? I love Southwest and the low fare enhances our family relationships which must be maintained from California, DC, North Carolina and Washington State.. Thanks.

[Anonymous1897]

It is totally awsome that youall are finally coming to SC but could youall think about servicing FLO (Florence SC) with us either you have to drive 2 hours to catch a reasonable flight or pay out your behind to catch one here

[Ann_Berglund]

So glad you are going to SC- please,please,please start service into Des Moines,IA !

[Rosemary]

Thank goodness- we have been waiting a long time. This is great for all the local universities!!!!! Thank you!

[Frank111]

This is GREAT news. I only fly Southwest except for SC and GA now I can end a terrible relationship with the other airline(s). Thank you again!

[Janna]

What about Iowa???? Cedar Rapids or Moline would be fantastic, but I'd even drive the 110 miles to Des Moines to be able to fly Southwest again!

[Anonymous2083]

What about BWI to Myrtle Beach? I bet the market would be huge from April to November.

[Ken_M]

Thanks for coming to Charleston. We look foward to flying with you on our yearly trip to Las Vegas.

[Anonymous3405]

anyplace in western Montana? others are very $$

[KMM]

THANK YOU Southwest for the good news of flying into South Carolina. We are ready to book our flights to Greenville and eager to become very frequent flyers with your airline. Thank you!

[Teresa]

When I moved to South Carolina I was SO sad that Southwest didn't fly here........... now I'm so very excited! I can afford to travel again. Thank you much, I love flying with you. Great service, on time flights and attendants on board with a sense of humor - it doesn't get better than Southwest Airlines! Bring it on, myself and my family will be first in line to fly.

[Debbie2612]

hooray for South Carolina passengers! will they have to schlepp through Dallas everytime they want to fly somewhere like all of us in central Texas?

[Charlotte1]

My son, daughter-in-law and three grandsons live in Greenville, SC and I can't tell you how excited this grandma and grandpa are that you will be flying there in 2011! Previously we couldn't fly you and get close enough so this is a blessing!!! Thank you and three cheers to the best airline ever!!!!

[Patti11]

love you out of Raleigh, wish you serviced Greensboro NC or at least come to Charlotte NC . We need you on this side of the state too!!! Love you Southwest - you are the best!!!

[Quietman]

I ditto those who want flights to Knoxville, TN and Savannah, GA. Two cities much traveled to with not a direct flight from BWI. Perfect markets for Southwest to add.

[Anonymous3274]

When are you going to start sevice to the ATL. I so love your airline and I so love Atlanta. Right now when I fly there I fly into Birmingham and drive over. It would be so nice to fl right into ATL on my favorite airline so that I could visit my children more often.

[Anonymous916]

This is WONDERFUL news! I've told my husband that our retirement spot has to be within 2 hours of an airport that SW flies. This opens up several new possibilities!!

[Janelle]

Looking forward to checking out South Carolina with Southwest. It may become a permanent move and it will be nice to be able to fly my friends and family down.

[Anonymous2277]

I wish Southwest was flying to GSP NOW I LUV Southwest. I can hardly wait for 2011 to get here I'll be a frequent flyer you can be sure of that. Southwest was the very first airline I flew on in California.. and so glad Love is open to get us from HERE to THERE with much more ease. Thank you Southwest.

[Anonymous2936]

I have family in SC. I am so thrilled that Southwest will be flying to Greenville, South Carolina. I hope it is from Mac Arthur Airport (ISP). Thank you.