Southwest Airlines Announces Service From Northwest Florida’s New International Airport, Near Panama City, Florida

[lreynolds]

Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today announces its intent to begin jet  service from Northwest Florida’s new international airport near Panama City, Florida  in May 2010.  The planned service is made possible through a strategic alliance agreement developed between Southwest and The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE), one of Florida’s largest landowners and real estate developers. The new airport will introduce daily jet service to the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast, providing Southwest Customers easy access to its stunning white-sand beaches and vibrant communities. For more information on the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast, please visit www.thebeachfla.com.

Southwest has not released specific service details, saying only that it will add at least two daily nonstop flights from Northwest Florida to four destinations across its 68 airport network for a total of eight daily nonstop flights when it begins service next year. Northwest Florida will be the first international airport to open in the nation in more than a decade. The new international airport is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in May 2010. Specific details on Southwest’s fares and schedule will be available in December 2009.

            “I am certain our more than 90 million annual Customers will be delighted to learn they are now free to hit Florida’s white-sand beaches with Southwest Airlines’ great, low-fare service from across the nation's largest airline network, taking Northwest Florida visitors off the roadways and into the airways,” said Gary Kelly, Southwest's Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO. “I would like to applaud the ingenuity and hard work that both Southwest and St. Joe leadership poured into this unique agreement.” Kelly said.

              “Southwest's arrival in Northwest Florida is expected to stimulate job growth, economic development, and give travelers more of the options they've been seeking,” said Britt Greene, President and CEO of St. Joe.  “St. Joe is the largest landowner in Northwest Florida with hundreds of thousands of acres in the service area of the new airport site.  Southwest will help position Northwest Florida as one of America’s leading beach destinations.  At the same time, this region is also home to one of the world’s most important defense aerospace economic clusters anchored by U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Army aviation installations.”

A number of regional organizations are assisting in launching the service.  Coastal Vision 3000, the Northwest Florida business group that created the regional destination brand, "The Beach,” is participating in the initiative.  The Bay County Tourism Development Council and The South Walton Tourism Development Council have pledged marketing resources.  The Panama City – Bay County International Airport and Industrial District has worked hard to enable new air service.

The Company will release additional details regarding its future Panama City service in the coming months.  The airline’s entry into Florida’s panhandle will be made possible in part by the airline optimizing its current flight schedule and repositioning aircraft.  

Additional Information

Additional information with respect to the terms of the strategic alliance agreement between Southwest and St. Joe, including financial obligations, will be available in a Form 8-K that will be filed by St. Joe with the Securities and Exchange Commission today.

To view a blog post on this news, visit: http://www.blogsouthwest.com.

About Southwest

After 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation's leading low-fare carrier, 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 recently updated its gate areas and improved its boarding procedure to make flying Southwest Airlines even more convenient. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) currently serves 67 cities in 34 states (Service to Milwaukee begins Nov.1 making it our 68th). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide.

More information about Southwest can be found at our web site at http://www.southwest.com

About St. Joe

 

The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE), a publicly held company based in Jacksonville, is one of Florida’s largest real estate development companies and Northwest Florida’s largest private landowner.  St. Joe is primarily engaged in real estate development and sales, with significant interests in timber.

 

More information about JOE can be found on its web site at www.joe.com.

 

SOURCE
Southwest Airlines

The St. Joe Company

CONTACT:
Southwest Airlines

Brandy King, Senior Manager, Communications

+1-214-792-4847

[kandee_walker]

AWESOME! PLEASE SAY AND MEAN YOU WILL BE FLYING OUT OF NASHVILLE, TN. we own a vacation home near PCB. We nearly bought further south because of SWA but were hoping you would come to the wonderful panhandle!!!!! YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[R_G_Young]

All I have to say is whoever the moron was who chose Panama City as a S/W location should be fired. He or she has obviously never driven to, from ,nor through Panama City. I live in Pensacola and can drive to New Orleans (200 miles) faster than I can drive to Panama City (120 miles). There is not an interstate within 50 miles nor a major city (Pensacola, Mobile, Tallahassee) within 120 miles, the street system in and around Panama City is a hodge podge of bad roads with a traffic light every 100 feet. I never in my wildest dreams thought you people would be sold a bill of goods by a local realter and settle into that remote and inaccessible dump. Lots of luck, nobody I know is going to put themselves through that nightmare just to fly your airline. You've just put a shining light on AirTran, and saved them a ton of advertising. Pitiful R.G. Young

[Anonymous439]

Why not Pensacola or Ft. Walton Beach? I hope you realize this airport only has one runway!

[js1102ss]

Uhhh when Southwest EVER go into Georgia or South Carolina? It does not have to be Atlanta, but there are so many great cities out there. If you live on the GA/SC boarder it is 4 or 5 hours to your closest city on Southwest. Please try to go into GA/SC there is a market out there for it.

[Teri_H]

We are CRYING in Pensacola. We so wanted you to meet our needs by choosing our city. I fly several times a month and if I fly my beloved SW airlines I have to drive three hours to New Orleans and park my car (last time it was for 23 days). Now I still have to drive 2.5 hrs and challenge the horrible Panama City traffic. (I never go to Panama City due to the traffic jams). I would still choose to drive to New Orleans on the I-10 rather than drive down the coastline to P. City. I own my own business here in P Cola and all my business buds are crying with me. Pensacola is so much easier to navigate and we have written to you for years asking you to come here. Again, we are sooooo disappointed over your announcement and cannot figure why you would have made such a decision. Even over Mobile???? And Panama City is much farther from I-10 for folks coming down off the interstate. Could you please re- consider your decision Confused and crying in Pensacola, Teri

[WarrenWD]

Why are you crying in Pensacola? Your traffic is SOOO much worse than ours here in Panama City! It is awesome that SW is coming here. I think it will bring a ton of more people to help our tourism industry that seems to be declining. CAN"T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous2980]

Awesome news! No more drives to Pensacola, where options abound already (too bad some folks from Pensacola consider their neighbors to the east inhabitants of an "inaccessible dump". Those of us who live in the "dump" are excited about improved air service and more options (other than Pensacola)....and are looking forward to spending our money locally!

[Wayne_Harrison]

OMG, this is sooo exciting. I fly from PFN to phoenix 3-6 times a month on business and pleasure and I love Southwest but have been forced to delta for years... I sure hope phoenix is one ot the four destinations !!!

[Ann8]

I am thrilled and thankful for the outcome of this decision!!! I am a SWA Retiree and now a resident of Panama City Beach, FL. I don't think I'm the only one that is grateful. We drove to BHM and or MSY to fly SWA from PCB..Thanks again, SWA. We luv you all...

[Anonymous900]

ECSTATIC!!!! Awesome news!! I think you will be surprised at the success of this venture....one of the best kept secrets in the U.S.A~the sugary white sand beaches and turquoise blue water. We have family in Panama City and will be flying from Oakland, Ca. Nashville, Balitmore, New Orleans?, Chicago? are these your 4 cities that will supply service to the world's most beautiful beaches?? THANK YOU GARY!!! We love Destin too!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous832]

I am a loyal SWA customer. I am disappointed that you chose Panama City over Mobile or Pensacola. I am a business traveller that travels from Nashville to New Orleans 1 to 3 times per month. I rent a car and drive to Mobile and Pascagoula, MS. I have been waiting, as have many of the residents there. I know Mobile, AL desperately wants SWA for business travellers as well as the Cruise Ship customers.

[Anonymous3299]

WOOO HOOO!!! Thank you for finally getting service into the Florida Panhandle! I had a feeling that VPS would not get chosen because of the situation with the airfield. But this will make getting home to see my family in Ft. Walton Beach so much easier. It is nice to see something go into Panama City instead of PNS for a change!

[bcinchicago]

SWA you ROCK!!! Panama City is the right place.......right time.......right destination.......I LOVE those people and they are gonna welcome SWA & your LUV.....so let's GET IT ON! you have always been my choice in airlines....congrats on a job well done!

[Brian_Beard]

Well I never expected people form KPNS to get all hissy over this. Just head out on I-10 and take SR79 south to CR388 and head east! I made that drive in 1 hour an 54 minutes in a Kenworth with 46,000 on the skateboard! (That is a big truck with a flatbed...) I don't hear the same whining from KTLH... settle down for crying out loud! KPNS is over saturated by the airlines right now, and the fares are outrageous! On the other side, I hope the WN destinations are Phoenix Dallas Nashville Baltimore Thanks Southwest for giving us a new choice. With the DAL/NWA merger, Delta was all we had here.

[Anonymous3138]

Nashville International (BNA) would be the PERFECT hub for flights to Panama City Airport. The Orlando flights from BNA are always booked, and I believe the demand for Panhandle flights would be huge. Grab your Bag- It's ON!

[Anonymous3533]

looks like a few people don't read well. ASW will begin service to Panama City BEACH.

[Wally]

To R.G. Young: My wife and I travel to Mexico at least twice a year. We fly out of VPS...cost...great little airport(except for the cops)...AND it only takes an hour and 20 minutes to get there from PC. Highway 77 to 20 and over...much faster...It is GREAT that SW is going to come into PC....wish they were flying into IAH and not Hobby....cost from Hobby to IAH is around $55.00, one person, each way, plus the time. Have family in Dallas & Lubbock, so now I can afford to go see them and have them come here for a visit. Wally

[Chuck_Lewis]

What is the driving distance from downtown Tallahassee? from Panama City? from Pensacola? St. Joe shareholder

[lmoffat]

Hi Chuck--It's about 110 miles to Tallahassee or a 2 hour drive, about 17 miles to PCB or a 25 minute drive, and 100 miles to Pensacola or a 2 hour drive. Hope that helps! Laurel

[gone4awhile]

Glad to hear SWA is buying Air Tran. But, will this mean we will eventually get SWA into P'cola, either as SWA or Air Tran who does currently have a flight into P'cola. P'City was a bust for us as far as using it from Santa Rosa County and we are going back to flying SWA from New Orleans.