Southwest Airlines Community

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly announced at our Chicago Message to the Field lat night that Southwest Airlines plans to begin service to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) sometime this fall.  ... View more

Herb Kelleher Honored by Department of Homeland Security Herb Kelleher, Southwest Airlines Chariman Emeritus, recently attended the Homeland Security Advisory Council luncheon where he received the DHS Distinguished Public Service Metal.  This medal, awarded by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, is awarded to select individuals who provide exceptional public service to help strengthen homeland security.  This award is equivalent to the Secretary’s Gold Medal and is awarded only in rare circumstances.  Congratulations, Herb, on this amazing honor! ... View more

Rapid Rewards® Announces New Hotel Preferred Partner On February 15, Best Western became the newest Preferred Partner of the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards program.  Rapid Rewards Members who are also Best Western Rewards™ members will receive a half (0.5) credit for every qualifying stay at more than 4,000 hotels in 80 countries.  Additionally, to celebrate the new partnership, Members can earn double credit (one full credit per stay) when they register and stay two or more qualified nights at any Best Western hotel between February 15 and April 6, 2009. Rapid Rewards Members can contact Best Western Rewards by calling (800) 237-8483 or e-mailing gcc@cs.bestwestern.com.  ... View more

Yahoo! has teamed up with Southwest to build the free inflight homepage where passengers can find a host of things to either help them wile away the hours or bone up on their destination city. To read more, visit:  Yahoo's blog Yodel Anecdotal at http://ycorpblog.com/2009/02/10/southwest-brings-wifi-to-the-sky/. ... View more

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES TESTS THE INFORMATION SUPERSKYWAY Airline Begins Customer Tests of InFlight Wi-Fi  DALLAS—Feb. 10, 2009—Peanuts, pretzels, internet? That’s the question for some Southwest Airlines Customers today as the airline tests wi-fi.  Southwest is the first to test new aircraft to satellite technology on commercial aircraft.  Southwest Airlines, in conjunction with Row 44, has equipped one aircraft with the technology and is set to equip three additional aircraft by early March 2009.  Southwest is also partnering with Yahoo! to offer an in-flight homepage with destination-relevant content.  Southwest will be testing the technology for the next few months. To view a photo of the wi-fi equipped aircraft visit http://gallery.swamedia.com/photos/value=open/type=jpg. To view a blog post, video, or listen to podcast visit www.blogsouthwest.com. “Internet connectivity has been high on our list of priorities for quite some time,” said Dave Ridley, Southwest Airlines Senior Vice President of Marketing and Revenue Management.  “We believe the aircraft-to-satellite technology is the most robust solution in the industry, and we look forward to the feedback from our Customers.” "Southwest is all about creating the best travel experience for their Customers," said John Guidon, Row 44 Chief Executive Officer. "We couldn't be prouder that they've selected Row 44's high-speed broadband to enhance their Customers' experience yet again with Internet connectivity inflight." When Southwest Customers board the wi-fi enabled aircraft, they will be greeted with wi-fi placards and onboard instruction sheets. Those interested in using the service during the test period will have the opportunity to log on to the service free of charge via their own personal wi-fi enabled device (laptops, iPhones, wi-fi enabled smart phones, etc).  Cellular technology will not work with the wi-fi service. The service is being offered on a trial basis, and has not yet received final FCC approval. Southwest Airlines is also teaming with Yahoo! to offer an in-flight homepage that includes a one-of-a-kind flight tracker, as well as daily programming of local news and information.  The new flight tracker will allow passengers to follow the plane’s flight path, and view “fly-over” points of interest along the route, with images from Flickr.  The Yahoo!/Southwest homepage will be maintained by Yahoo!, and will include destination-relevant content such as local events, weather and news, as well as destination guides that highlight top restaurants, attractions and shopping.  Also featured are a number of Yahoo! Games, perfect for wiling away the hours. “For years, Yahoo! has given its users a 30,000 foot view of what’s happening in the world, and it’s exciting to have an opportunity to do so from 30,000 feet,” said Joanne Bradford, senior vice president of revenue and market development, Yahoo!  “The Yahoo!-Southwest homepage will give passengers the information they need about what’s happening on the ground, before they land, so they can literally make on-the-fly decisions about their trip.” After 37 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation’s leading low-fare carrier, continues to differentiate itself from other airlines—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service.  At Southwest Airlines, fees don’t fly. Customers can check their first two bags for free (size and weight limits apply), there are no change fees, no fees for a window or aisle seat, and, as always, snacks, sodas, and smiles are all complimentary! Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience.  Southwest offers a very comfortable ride with all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom with a young all Boeing 737 fleet. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned, currently serves 64 cities (with service to Minneapolis/St. Paul starting in March 2009) in 32 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide.               www.southwest.com ... View more

Ch 33 in Dallas had a news story last Friday on Southwest's Emerging Media efforts, featuring our very own blog stars Christi Day and Lindsey Reynolds.  To view the clip, visit:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T3-cVkRDSQ ... View more

  Jay Leno features "new Southwest Airlines commercial" in monolouge (spoof) http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/video/clips/monologue-121/958581/ ... View more

The Steelers and the Cardinals will be “duking it out” in the 2009 Super Bowl in Tampa on February 1, and Southwest is ready for the crowds!  We’ve added a few extra flights to help make travel to and from Tampa smoother for our Customers and those diehard football fans.  If you are traveling to the game, or just looking for a good tailgate, check out southwest.com for details on the added flights as well as travel tips.   ... View more

Tune in to ABC this Sunday night to see Southwest Airlines on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition!  Check your local listings for time and channel.   http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/index?pn=index ... View more

  Right now you can fly many of Southwest's routes for low fares starting at just $49 one-way with no hidden fees. There has never been a better time to get away. So book today and save! This fare is available for one-way travel. Available only on southwest.com or swabiz.com. Purchase January 1 through January 19, 2009 midnight pacific standard time. Travel January 15 through April 30, 2009. 14-day advance purchase required. Sale fares may be higher other days of the week depending on destination and length of trip. Travel not available to/from Florida, Orange County, CA, or Washington (Dulles), DC. If combining with other fares, the most restrictive fare's rules apply. Seats are limited and won't be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods. Tickets are nonrefundable but may be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Any change in itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Offer applies to published, scheduled service. Minneapolis/St.Paul, MN - MSP service begins March 8th, 2009. ... View more

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES REPORTS DECEMBER TRAFFIC             DALLAS, TEXAS – January 6, 2009 -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the Company flew 5.8 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in December 2008, a 1.1 percent increase from the 5.7 billion RPMs flown in December 2007.  Available seat miles (ASMs) decreased 1.0 percent to 8.3 billion from the December 2007 level of 8.4 billion.  The load factor for the month was 69.7 percent, compared to 68.2 percent for the same period last year.             For the fourth quarter 2008, Southwest flew 17.3 billion RPMs, a 1.4 percent decrease from the 17.5 billion RPMs recorded for the same period in 2007.  Available seat miles increased 0.8 percent to 25.5 billion from the fourth quarter 2007 level of 25.3 billion.  The fourth quarter 2008 load factor was 67.8 percent, compared to 69.3 percent for the same period last year. For the year ended December 31, 2008, Southwest flew 73.5 billion RPMs, a 1.6 percent increase from the 72.3 billion RPMs recorded for the same period in 2007.  Available seat miles increased 3.6 percent to 103.3 billion from the 2007 level of 99.6 billion.  The year-to-date load factor was 71.2 percent, compared to 72.6 percent for the same period last year.             This release, as well as past news releases on Southwest, are available online at southwest.com.   ... View more

A grown man sends a love letter to Southwest Airlines This last week I flew Southwest Airlines and I came to the amazing conclusion after my trip, “I love Southwest Airlines”. For all these years I have been keeping this as my little secret as all my friends have said Southwest can’t be good service as it is one of those “low cost” airlines. Having flown every domestic airline and many international airlines I am now ready to proclaim, “I love Southwest Airlines”. I know that my hoity-toity friends with their 100 K frequent flyer cards will surely thumb their noses up at me for being so openly in love with an airline that brags that their fares are so low they are “peanuts”, but I am ready to take the heat for loving peanuts. Reason #1 I love Southwest Airlines – Their people smile – Can you imagine people that smile when they serve you? Their gate agents smile, their flight attendants smile, their pilots smile and even the ground crews seem happy. The rest of the airlines must be asking, what is wrong with these people. They actually act like they enjoy their jobs.   To read reasons 2-8, visit: http://www.executivetravel.com/ ... View more

One Step Closer to LGA; U.S. Bankruptcy Court Approves Bid Last month, Southwest Airlines submitted a bid in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Indianapolis that would allow us to assume ATA Airlines’ rights to operate at New York’s LaGuardia (LGA) Airport.  The bid was submitted in connection with the Court’s publicly announced auction process for the acquisition of a reorganized ATA, including some of its remaining assets.  The Bankruptcy Court stated yesterday that it would grant ATA’s Motion to approve our bid.   While the proposed transaction is still subject to completion of final documentation and Court approval of ATA’s Plan of Reorganization, this ruling is an important step in the right direction in order for Southwest Airlines to offer service to LGA.  Also, there are still many details that need to be resolved before we could announce specifics about the type of service we could offer or when we could expect to start service at LGA.  We expect to have a final answer to these questions by March 2009.    As a recap, the $7.5 million bid would allow Southwest Airlines to assume ATA’s rights to 14 slots at LaGuardia, which would permit an operation of up to seven daily roundtrip flights.  We would not acquire, as a part of our bid, any aircraft, facilities, or employees of ATA, which filed for bankruptcy protection on April 2, 2008.   Once the acquisition is finalized, we will work with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Port Authority of New York to commence service at LaGuardia, including acquisition of the necessary airport gate(s) and facilities.   www.southwest.com     ... View more

Southwest Airlines Reports November Traffic     DALLAS, Dec. 2 -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the Company flew 5.3 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in November 2008, an 8.3 percent decrease from the 5.7 billion RPMs flown in November 2007. Available seat miles (ASMs) were essentially flat at 8.3 billion for November 2007 and November 2008. The load factor for the month was 63.2 percent, compared to 69.3 percent for the same period last year. For the eleven months ended November 30, 2008, Southwest flew 67.7 billion RPMs, compared to the 66.6 billion RPMs recorded for the same period of 2007, an increase of 1.7 percent. Available seat miles increased 4.1 percent to 95.0 billion from the 2007 level of 91.2 billion. The year-to-date load factor was 71.3 percent, compared to 73.0 percent for the same period last year. This release, as well as past news releases on Southwest, are available online at http://www.southwest.com/?src=INVRINVNOTR000000081202.                                 SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.                   PRELIMINARY COMPARATIVE TRAFFIC STATISTICS                                                 NOVEMBER                                       2008         2007        CHANGE     Revenue passengers carried      6,516,903    7,295,981     (10.7)%     Enplaned passengers             7,447,468    8,271,795     (10.0)%     Revenue passenger miles (000)   5,263,208    5,742,499      (8.3)%     Available seat miles (000)      8,325,287    8,289,678        0.4%     Load factor                         63.2%        69.3%   (6.1)pts.     Average length of haul                808          787        2.7%     Trips flown                        95,355       97,326      (2.0)%                                                 YEAR-TO-DATE                                       2008         2007       CHANGE     Revenue passengers carried     81,747,398   81,710,320        0.0%     Enplaned passengers            93,955,783   93,830,916        0.1%     Revenue passenger miles (000)  67,697,300   66,590,250        1.7%     Available seat miles (000)     94,952,996   91,231,699        4.1%     Load factor                         71.3%        73.0%   (1.7)pts.     Average length of haul                828          815        1.6%     Trips flown                     1,095,338    1,062,436        3.1%   http://www.southwest.com   ... View more

SWA Launches New Cargo Web Site Southwest Airlines celebrates the launch of our new Cargo web site at www.swacargo.com.  Just like the award-winning southwest.com, the Cargo web site offers easy, one-click navigation and real-time flight status, along with shipment tracking.   “In addition to excellent ontime performance, our goal at Southwest Cargo is excellent Customer Service,” said Senior Director Cargo Matt Buckley.  “The re-launch of our web site gives our Customers even more ways to make shipping with Southwest Airlines easy, convenient, and hassle-free.”   The re-launch of www.swacargo.com is another step in a long line of technology enhancements Southwest Airlines Cargo is implementing to improve Customer Service.  In the future, Southwest Airlines Cargo will add AdvancedCargo Suite from Lufthansa Systems.  The system will help us optimize our air cargo booking, handling, and accounting processes, thus enhancing Customer Service.  Shippers will be able to pre-book their Cargo shipments online much like Customers do an airline seat at southwest.com.  Eventually, the AdvancedCargo Suite will have enhanced online tracking capabilities via web, PDA, and cell phone.  The new tracking capabilities will aid Shippers who have time-sensitive shipments by providing more accurate status updates.   Providing more than 150 million pounds of available cargo lift per month, Southwest Airline Cargo is recognized as an industry leader, winning numerous awards for ontime performance, value, Customer Service, and communication. For more information, visit:  www.swacargo.com ... View more

On This Date in Southwest History... 1985:  El Paso Cargo Opens Happy 23rd Anniversary El Paso Cargo! 1993: SJC Provisioning Opens Happy 15th Anniversary San Jose Provo! ... View more

New No Hidden Fee Commercials This Thanksgiving, Southwest will introduce two new commercials highlighting our Customer-friendly No Hidden Fees policy  Check them out now at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPwinRPij5E and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q99yZwWZE6A Remember, Southwest Airlines—Low Fares. No Hidden Fees! ... View more

On This Date In Southwest History... 1998: (Nov. 26) Southwest’s first transcontinental flight traveled roundtrip between Oakland and Baltimore. This one-day flight experiment was conducted to formally evaluate Southwest’s operations on longhaul flights. Each Customer onboard completed a survey, and the results were overwhelmingly positive. To celebrate the landmark Thanksgiving Day flights, each Customer was given a choice between a smoked turkey or a bottle of Wild Turkey. 1967: (Nov. 27) With $500,000 in the bank, Southwest founder, Herb Kelleher, files the application with the Texas Aeronautics Commission (TAC) to serve Dallas Love Field, Houston Intercontinental, and San Antonio.   1988: (Nov. 29) Southwest officially opens its Houston Hobby Maintenance Base. ... View more

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES PROUD TO BE THE OFFICIAL AIRLINE OF THE  STATE FARM BAYOU CLASSIC Southwest Airlines celebrates being part of the most legendary  Black College Football event.   Dallas – Nov. 24, 2008 – The legendary rivalry between Grambling State University and Southern University is showcased at the State Farm Bayou Classic, and Southwest Airlines is celebrating as the Classic’s official airline. This powerful “Clash of the Titans” will determine the best team Black College football at the Louisiana Superdome, November 29. “Southwest Airlines is proud of the sportsmanship demonstrated in this legendary game,” said Jena Atchison, Southwest Airlines manager of segment marketing.  “As the top airline in the United States, we are committed to excellence; and the State Farm Bayou Classic is an outstanding demonstration of high standards from the best of Black College football.”  Southwest Airlines has partnered with the Bickerstaff Group for the last eight years as part of our commitment to historically black colleges and universities.  The airline has also supported civic organizations such as the National Association of Colored People (NAACP), Urban League and the National Black Chamber of Commerce as part of its dedication to the African American communities. “The State Farm Bayou Classic and the Bickerstaff Group are thankful to Southwest Airlines for their support over the last eight years,” said Cydni Bickerstaff, President of the Bickerstaff Group.  “They have been instrumental to the success of the event and we appreciate all they have done to support us.  We are proud to have Southwest as a sponsor and we hope the partnership will continue for many years to come.” After 37 years of service, Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low fare carriers—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.  Southwest offers a very comfortable ride with all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom with a young all Boeing 737 fleet.  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 (soon to be 65 with the addition of MSP in March 2009) cities in 32 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,400 flights a day and has more than 34,000 Employees systemwide.   www.southwest.com   ... View more

  Southwest Airlines is over the moon about receiving three Zagat awards today as the number two best Large U.S. Economy Class Airline, number two Best Green Practices Airline.  Also, fliers cited Southwest as having the Best On-time Performance among domestic airlines. Southwest was also saluted for offering the Best Value Domestically as well as the Best Website, Frequent-Flier Program and Luggage Policy.  One hundred thousand participants can’t be wrong! Special thanks to our People, who make these wonderful recognitions possible for our Company, with their loyalty, Warrior Spirit and unconditional dedication to our Customers.  To view the complete list visit http://www.zagat.com/airline. The Zagat survey is the world's most trusted source for information about where to eat, drink, stay and play around the globe, and as such has become a symbol of quality. Zagat Survey rates and reviews airlines, restaurants, hotels, nightlife, movies, music, golf, resorts, shopping, spas, and a range of other entertainment categories in over 100 countries.   ... View more

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES ADDS EXTRA FLIGHTS FOR PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION Airline offers more service into Baltimore/Washington and Washington Dulles DALLAS—Nov. 21, 2008— Following a record voter turnout, demand is high to attend the inaugural celebration!  To meet the increased demand in key cities, Southwest Airlines is adding 26 total flights into and out of both Baltimore/Washington and Washington Dulles between Jan. 17, 2009, and Jan. 23, 2009. “Flights are filling up and Southwest Airlines wants to offer our Customers more service into the DC area for the inauguration celebration,” said Pete McGlade, Southwest Airlines Vice President of Schedule Planning.  “We carefully combed through our flight schedule and were able to add these flights from key cities into both Baltimore/Washington and Washington Dulles during peak travel times.” The additional inauguration flights are listed below:             Jan. 17, 2009: ·         One nonstop departure from Austin to Baltimore/Washington. ·         One nonstop departure from Birmingham to Baltimore/Washington. ·         One nonstop departure from Houston Hobby to Baltimore/Washington. ·         One nonstop departure from Chicago Midway to Washington Dulles. ·         One nonstop departure from St. Louis to Baltimore/Washington.   Jan. 18, 2009: ·         One nonstop departure from Baltimore/Washington to Austin. ·         One nonstop departure from Baltimore/Washington to Birmingham. ·         One nonstop departure from Baltimore/Washington to Houston Hobby. ·         One nonstop departure from Baltimore/Washington to St. Louis. ·         One nonstop departure from St. Louis to Baltimore/Washington. ·         One nonstop departure from Washington Dulles to Chicago Midway. ·         One nonstop departure from Chicago Midway to Washington Dulles.   Jan. 19, 2009: ·         One nonstop departure from Baltimore/Washington to St. Louis. ·         One nonstop departure from Washington Dulles to Chicago Midway. ·         One nonstop departure from Chicago Midway to Washington Dulles.   Jan. 20, 2009: ·         One nonstop departure from Kansas City to Baltimore/Washington. ·         One nonstop departure from Chicago Midway to Baltimore/Washington. ·         One nonstop departure from Washington Dulles to Chicago Midway. ·         One nonstop departure from Chicago Midway to Washington Dulles.   Jan. 21, 2009: ·         One nonstop departure from Baltimore/Washington to Kansas City. ·         One nonstop departure from Baltimore/Washington to Chicago Midway. ·         One nonstop departure from Washington Dulles to Chicago Midway. ·         One nonstop departure from Chicago Midway to Washington Dulles. ·         One nonstop departure from San Diego to Baltimore/Washington.   Jan. 22, 2009: ·         One nonstop departure from Washington Dulles to Chicago Midway. ·         One nonstop departure from Baltimore/Washington to San Diego.     Southwest is the only U.S. airline to remain consistently profitable this decade, and enjoys an unprecedented string of 35 consecutive years of profitability.  Southwest has among the lowest cost structures, a strong balance sheet, and the most productive Employees of any major U.S. airline.  At Southwest Airlines, fees don’t fly with us.  You can check your first two bags for free (size and weight limits apply), there are no change fees, no fees for a window or aisle seat, and, as always, snacks, sodas, and smiles are all complimentary! After 37 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation’s leading low-fare carrier, continues to differentiate itself from 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.  Southwest offers a very comfortable ride with all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom with a young all Boeing 737 fleet.  Southwest recently updated its gate areas and improved its boarding procedure to make flying Southwest even more 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 3,400 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide.       www.southwest.com   ... View more

Southwest Airlines Declares 129th Consecutive Quarterly Dividend 11/20/2008 1:00:00 PM DALLAS, Nov. 20 -- Southwest Airlines' (NYSE: LUV) Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $.0045 per share to Shareholders of record at the close of business on December 11, 2008 on all shares then issued and outstanding.  The 129th consecutive dividend will be paid on January 8, 2009.   ... View more

Southwest airlines APPOINTS two new members to board of directors   DALLAS—Nov. 20, 2008— The Southwest Airlines Board of Directors today appointed Daniel D. Villanueva and John Denison to the Board. For photos of Villanueva and Denison please click here: http://gallery.swamedia.com/photos/kw=08SWABOD Villanueva is a partner in RC Fontis, a California-based private equity firm. Villanueva previously was Managing Partner of Bastion Capital Corporation, a private equity investment fund. Currently, he serves on the Boards of Metropolitan West Funds, Citibank (Banamex USA), and Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. Villanueva spent 25 years in the broadcasting business as a television executive with Spanish International Communications Corp., and its successor company, Univision. He previously served on the Boards of Univision Network, Telemundo Network, 7UP Bottling of Southern California, and Film Roman, a California-based animation studio. Denison has a long history in the airline industry. He previously served in an executive capacity with Global Aero Logistics Inc., an airline holding company, including as its Chairman of the Board. Prior to that, Denison served as Executive Vice President of Corporate Services for Southwest Airlines. During his time at Southwest, Denison also held the roles of Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Before joining Southwest Airlines, Denison held the Assistant Treasurer position at The LTV Corporation in Dallas. He also worked as the Manager of Corporate Finance for the Chrysler Corporation in Detroit. “We are proud to add businessmen of this caliber to our Board,” said Gary Kelly, Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer for Southwest Airlines. “We know their talent and experience will provide fresh insight particularly as our industry still faces many challenges.” Villanueva enjoys giving his time to the community by serving on various nonprofit boards including the American Red Cross, the National Hispanic Education Fund, and the National YMCA. He was active in immigration reform legislation and was a Commissioner of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He is a graduate of New Mexico State University. In 2007, Villanueva was inducted into the National Hispanic Sports Hall of Fame, located in Texas. Denison received his MBA from Wayne State University in Detroit and his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Oakland University. He served his country as a Sergeant in the US Army. Pursuant to the Company’s Bylaws, both men will initially serve for a term lasting until the Company’s next Annual Meeting of Shareholders in May 2009. Other members of Southwest’s Board of Directors are: David W. Biegler, Louis E. Caldera, C. Webb Crockett, William H. Cunningham, Ph.D., Travis C. Johnson, Gary C. Kelly Nancy B. Loeffler, and John T. Montford. About Southwest Airlines After 37 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 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 3,400 flights a day and has more than 34,000 Employees systemwide. www.southwest.com ... View more

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES SEEKS RIGHTS TO OPERATE AT LAGUARDIA AIRPORT DALLAS—Nov. 19, 2008—Southwest Airlines confirmed today that it has submitted a bid that would allow the airline to assume ATA Airlines’ rights to operate at New York’s LaGuardia (LGA) Airport through a purchase of ATA Airlines. The bid was submitted in connection with the publicly announced auction process in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Indianapolis and consistent with the Federal Aviation Administration’s recent rule clarification regarding LaGuardia’s slots. Southwest is working with ATA Airlines with respect to the terms and conditions of the bid. The bid does not contemplate operating ATA, but it is intended to allow Southwest to acquire the LGA slots.  The $7.5 million bid seeks to obtain the rights to 14 slots at LaGuardia that are currently held by ATA Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection on April 2, 2008.  Those 14 slots would permit an operation of up to seven daily roundtrip flights at LaGuardia.  Southwest would not acquire, as a part of its bid, any aircraft, facilities, or employees of ATA.  “It is our intent, with the successful conclusion of the transaction, to make plans to initiate service from LaGuardia,” said Southwest’s Chairman, President, and CEO Gary Kelly. “Even in this volatile environment, we have said we must monitor the competitive landscape and take advantage of prudent market opportunities.”  The bankruptcy court must approve the bid and a reorganization plan for ATA Airlines before Southwest could gain the rights to ATA’s LaGuardia slots.  Once the acquisition is finalized, Southwest will work with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Port Authority of New York to commence service at LaGuardia, including acquisition of the necessary airport gate(s) and facilities.  Details on the commencement of service or the cities that would be served by Southwest from LaGuardia have not yet been determined. www.southwest.com Media Please Contact:  Public Relations at 214/792-4847 ... View more