Southwest Airlines Community

Ready for some baked beans, cup of chowdah, or a tea party? Sit down with Bob Jordan, Southwest Airline's Executive Vice President of Strategy and Planning, and learn all about our new 2009 summer schedule, fare pricing, and the future of the LUV airline.   ... View more

Southwest: Row 44 is closing in on permanent authority To read more, visit: http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/runway-girl/2009/03/southwest-row-44-is-closing-in.html ... View more

Christie Volkmer and Jodi Wincheski   Southwest Airlines flight attendants Christie Volkmer and Jodi Wincheski made their last trip around the Amazing Race globe Sunday, becoming the fifth team to be axed this season. Saved from elimination last week, the duo fell behind early in India and their extra Speed Bump task certainly didn't help matters. Find out exactly how close they were to making it to Thailand, how they kept their cool and what it was really like running in Russia in a thong.  To read more, visit: http://www.tvguide.com/news/amazing-races-christie-1004316.aspx?rss=breakingnews ... View more

Southwest Airlines Co. has negotiated contracts with three unions in recent months, and each of the deals would give pay raises to employees. American Airlines Inc. doesn't have a deal with any of its three major unions as it maintains a negotiating strategy aimed at getting its expenses down and certainly not raising its unit costs. Who's got the smarter business strategy? It may not be as easy a question as it seems. To read more, visit: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-airlabor_22bus.ART0.State.Edition1.4a570f7.html "Any vibrant company, the employees are there building their future. It makes no sense to me to tell all of our people that you're not ever going to get a raise. There's just no hope for you. That's silly.  If a company is successful, they ought to share in those rewards. We have always said to our employees, 'Yes, as much as we can, we're going to pay you as much as we can afford,'" -Gary Kelly, Southwest Airlines Chairman, President, and CEO  ... View more

Southwest was recently named one of America’s Most Shareholder Friendly Companies by Institutional Investor Magazine.  In fact, our Company topped the list in the airlines sector based on our proactive communication.  In these tough economic times, investors need assurance about the safety of their money, and they rely on their relationship with the companies they have invested in.  So, our Company focuses on being open, responsive, and accessible to our Shareholders.  Congratulations to our Friends in our Investor Relations Department! ... View more

Southwest Airlines Cargo Honored as Airline of the Year Southwest Airlines Cargo Recognized for Excellence in Air Cargo Delivery Service DALLAS, March 17, 2009 -- Southwest Airlines Cargo is proud to announce it was recognized for its excellence in air cargo for the fifth straight year, named "Airline of the Year" by the Express Delivery & Logistics Association (XLA). "Southwest Airlines' reliable schedule and outstanding Customer Service have differentiated us from our competitors," said Matt Buckley, Southwest's Senior Director of Cargo. "We appreciate the hard work and dedication of our Cargo and Ramp Employees who go above and beyond to meet the needs of our Customers. We owe this award to them." The XLA Award is based on an annual survey of association members who use the services of commercial passenger airlines for their express deliveries around the world. Southwest took top honors in 2002, 2003, and 2005 through 2008, and finished second in the rankings in 2001 and 2004. Founded in 1976, XLA is a nonprofit association whose members include large firms with global delivery networks and smaller businesses with strong regional delivery networks. The association represents the interest of the air courier and express delivery industry by communicating positions to legislative and regulatory officials. In addition, they provide a forum for the exchange of information regarding trends and developments within the industry, and they promote the use of air courier and express services. Southwest Airlines Cargo is recognized as an industry leader, winning numerous awards for ontime performance, value, Customer Service, and communication. Southwest Airlines Cargo recently launched a redesigned website, swacargo.com, which offers easy, one-click navigation and real-time flight status, along with shipment tracking. Southwest Airlines Cargo currently serves more than 70 cities and has more than 150 million pounds of available cargo lift per month. Based in Dallas, Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) has a fleet of 500+ Boeing jets and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide. For more information, visit www.swacargo.com.                              www.southwest.com ... View more

Southwest Airlines Celebrates 'Green Tuesday' and St. Patrick's Day With RNP Demo Flight and Other Environmental Initiatives   Required Navigation Performance Preliminary Data Highlights Potential Emissions Reduction and Fuel Savings DALLAS, March 17 -- Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) recently flew RNP (Required Navigation Performance) procedures roundtrip between Dallas Love Field and Houston Hobby - achieving a major milestone in the airline's quest to revolutionize the skies and become the first airline to fly RNP procedures at every airport it serves. The demo flight by Southwest is the result of two years of hard work and a partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and industry partners. RNP is satellite-based navigation and is one of the cornerstones for the FAA's Next Generation Air Traffic Control system (NextGen), bringing together the accuracy of GPS (Global Positioning System), the capabilities of advanced aircraft avionics, and new flight procedures. "RNP allows aircraft to fly more precise, direct, and accurate paths, reducing emissions and saving on fuel," said Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Van de Ven. "This is a milestone in the six- year plan to implement RNP procedures across the Southwest System and assist the FAA with NextGen initiatives." In support of the FAA's Roadmap for Performance-Based Navigation, Southwest is investing $175 million during this six-year project to implement RNP procedures, retrofit aircraft, and train its Pilots. The initial investment will provide long-term benefits to reduce industry air traffic congestion and increase aircraft efficiencies. The recent roundtrip RNP demo flight between Dallas Love Field and Houston Hobby yielded the following preliminary data:    --  Estimated carbon reduction of 904 pounds of CO2 per roundtrip flight        between Dallas Love Field and Houston Hobby.    --  Estimated carbon reduction in one year of flying RNP procedures between        Dallas Love Field and Houston Hobby could equal a reduction of        approximately 8.42 million pounds of CO2.  This is equivalent to        removing 699 passenger cars from the road for one year.*    --  Fuel savings of eight percent, which translates to approximately 43        gallons of fuel per roundtrip flight between Dallas Love Field and        Houston Hobby.    --  Fuel savings in one year of flying RNP procedures between Dallas Love        Field and Houston Hobby could equal approximately 400,000 gallons of fuel savings. "The data collected is extremely promising for just one roundtrip flight, and we are excited to implement additional flights at airports across our system," said Jeff Martin, Senior Director of Flight Operations and Southwest's RNP Lead. "This has been a true collaborative effort between nearly every department at Southwest and our many industry partners. We look forward to briefing senior FAA leaders in April." RNP is just one facet of Southwest Airlines' commitment to efficiency and environmental stewardship. In addition to RNP, Southwest completes each point on its "four-leaf clover" by implementing additional "green" initiatives-- reducing fuel and providing enormous environmental savings by avoiding greenhouse gas emissions. Among them:    --  Efficient Flight: Southwest adjusted flight profile speeds in March 2008        in order to create additional efficiencies and to conserve fuel.  From        March 2008 through December 2008, the flight profile adjustments saved        approximately 13.1 million gallons of fuel without affecting ontime        performance, which equates to 125,348 metric tons of CO2.    --  Aircraft Specific Performance Monitoring (APM):  By establishing a        specific fuel burn factor for each aircraft through APM, Southwest was        able to more accurately gauge fuel needs for each flight.  The result of        APM is a small but measurable reduction in takeoff weight, which saved        4.4 million gallons of fuel in 2008, which equals 42,102 metric tons of        CO2.    --  Engine Washing: Using Pratt & Whitney's EcoPower(R) Engine        Wash, Southwest washes eight of its Boeing 737-700 engines each night.        This has increased engine efficiency, and, from April to December 2008,        saved 1.6 million gallons of fuel and reduced carbon emission by 15,310        metric tons. To view a video of Southwest's engine washing, go to http://www.blogsouthwest.com/video/southwest-airlines-engine-washing. Environmental Stewardship is a responsibility Southwest takes seriously, and efficient operations are the hallmark of our Company and the foundation of our environmental commitment. Over the decades, Southwest has been at the forefront of such efficiencies as paperless tickets, quick turnarounds, installation of winglets, and, more recently; the installation of fleet-wide advanced avionics. This focus on efficiency not only makes good business sense, it is the right thing to do. For more information on how Southwest Airlines cares for the environment, visit www.southwest.com/cares. *Using Environmental Protection Agency's Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies - www.southwest.com -   ... View more

  Dave the Rapping Flight Attendant has taken over the forward cabin with his preflight announcement. Learning how to buckle seatbelts and pay for booze on board has never been so fun—if you want another kinda drink just holla, alcoholic beverages will be four dollars. He’s sick and tired of the same boring announcement, so he started doing his best to entertain the passengers—and himself—all in the name of safety. Check him out at: http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/3/16/71348/6009/travel/What+Has+Your+Southwest+Flight+Attendant+Performed+For+You+Lately%3F ... View more

Of the 10,000+ people attending the SXSW Interactive Festival, our very own Christi Day managed to get on TV...   http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/sxsw_gets_interactive "It is a little overwhelming, people with a lot of ideas, people sharing, networking.  It's just a lot to take in, but it's also extremely enjoyable." -Christi Day, Southwest Airlines Emerging Media Team ... View more

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES IS THE OFFICIAL AIRLINE OF LATINO BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL CONNECTION MINNEAPOLIS, MN- March 12, 2009 – The Latino Business & Professional Connection, (LBPC) announced today that Southwest Airlines has become the official airline of the organization.  This announcement was done during the LBPC monthly event held at the Ordway Center for the performing arts in Minneapolis.  “Southwest Airlines is proud to announce this partnership with the Latino Business & Professional Connection,” said Lidia Martinez, corporate community affairs manager for Southwest Airlines. “We believe in being part of the economic growth of this great city and support the Latino community that’s making a difference.” As the Official Airline of LBPC, Southwest Airlines will support their marketing and advertising efforts with promotions and travel throughout the year. The pieces will include print and online advertising, e-mail marketing, as well as contests, giveaways and special LBPC-specific discounts off Southwest Airlines for LBPC members. "LBPC is very excited about this partnership and Southwest Airlines' recognition of our efforts to increase the knowledge and presence of Latino professional and business in Minnesota." said Jim Carlson, LBPC Founder. "This partnership is the first of its kind for LBPC and will enable us to focus our resources on the planning and execution of these monthly events." The Latino Business and Professional Connection was founded in 2008 and has a distribution list of over 6,000 members.  The mission of this organization is to build an up-scale business network that reaches business & professionals from all industries and brings them together under one roof to achieve the most powerful business event between Latinos and non-Latinos business & professional groups. For more information please visit www.latinobpc.com. After 38 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 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 65 cities in 33 states.  Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide.  For the lowest fares and no hidden fees visit: www.southwest.com ... View more

Tune in to ABC this Sunday, March 15 at 7 p.m. CST to see Southwest Airlines on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition!  Ty and the Extreme Makeover gang go to El Paso, to help a family who sacrificed finishing their own home project to improve the lives of others. Southwest Airlines flew in canned goods to donate to the family’s local charity. We displayed our SOUTHWEST SPIRIT by giving back to the community and helping families in need.   Our ELP Station Employees joined in the fun and “star” in the episode!  ... View more

By Whitney Eichinger   Southwest Airlines is celebrating ten years today serving the great travelers on Long Island.  If you haven't seen our incredible operation at MacArthur Airport, you should make a trip out that way.  We have a state-of-the-art concourse that includes convenient parking and delicious local eateries—and of course you can’t beat the easy check in and fast security lines!  And the airport even has a mother's room where mom's can escape to change, feed, and/or calm their young ones while waiting for their flight.   Our Islip Employees do their best to charm our Long Island Customers with Southwest LUV day in and day out.  Today we'll be celebrating with Employees and Customers alike and we'll even have the Sayville High School Chamber Players and Patchogue-Medford High School Concert Choir adding a little festiveness to the airport.  The airport is a true labor of LUV and we’re proud to celebrate today and look forward to the next ten years! ... View more

Did you know that our current CEO, President, and Chairman of the Board Gary Kelly shares the same birthday as our co-founder and Chairman Emeritus Herb Kelleher?  That’s right…March 12!  Happy Birthday, guys!  Here are a few other things you may not know about Gary Kelly:   1.      Herb describes Gary as a “bottom thinker” because he always wants the facts before decisions are made. 2.      In his office, you will find the very first note Herb ever wrote to Gary, proudly framed above his computer. 3.      His choice of beer is Shiner because it’s brewed in his home state of Texas.  Diet Dr. Pepper is his non-alcoholic beverage of choice, and Snickers is his favorite candy bar.  He also loves a bowl of Blue Bell Light Homemade Vanilla ice cream! 4.      Gary loves music, especially “the blues,” and he has an extensive CD collection.  His all-time favorite movies are “Lonesome Dove,” “Dances with Wolves,” and “It’s A Wonderful Life.” 5.      He loves to prepare New Mexico cuisine. As Gary puts it, “My meals are spicy and the drinks are strong!”  Gary eats a can of jalapeños every night regardless of what else is on the table.  And, the family dog is a Sheltie named Chile. 6.      When asked to do something that Gary is not completely thrilled about, his first remark is often simply, “Yippee.” 7.      When purchasing a car, Gary always opts for a used one, thinking that buying a brand new car is simply a waste of money.  Isn’t this the guy you want championing low costs and low fares at Southwest Airlines? 8.      His wife, Carol, was his eighthgrade sweetheart. When he first met her, he thought she talked too much. They have been married for 28 years and were born in the same hospital in San Antonio one day apart. (Happy belated birthday, Carol).  When Carol’s mom first met Gary in 1968, she thought he was standing on a box because he was so tall. 9.      Gary begins each day drinking one cup of coffee, with caffeine, before he leaves home. He eats a banana at work. Upon arriving at the office, he switches to decaffeinated coffee. 10.  Gary was the quarterback for his high school football team, the San Antonio Churchill Chargers. He also was the quarterback his freshman year at the University of Texas at El Paso, before he transferred to the University of Texas at Austin.  11.  When Gary was hired at Southwest in June 1986, the required drug test had just been implemented, and Gary was actually the first person to take a drug test as part of the hiring process.  12.  His first paying job was as a carpenter’s apprentice. 13.  His hero is Abe Lincoln. 14.  His ideal vacation is spending time in his favorite cities — Santa Fe and Destin. 15.  He’s great about shopping for Christmas presents on his own, and always surprises everyone. 16.  He “attempts” to play the electric guitar. Reliable sources say he always begins with a few bars of Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water.”  17.  Gary began his Southwest career as our Controller. He was promoted to Chief Financial Officer and Vice President Finance in 1989. In June 2001, he was promoted to Executive Vice President.  In 2004, Gary became our Vice Chairman and CEO.  18.  He earned a B.B.A. in accounting from the University of Texas and became a Certified Public Accountant.  After college, he worked as an audit manager for Arthur Young & Company in Dallas.  He also has worked in mainframe software development and as a controller for Systems Center, Inc., now part of Sterling Software, in Irving, Texas. 19.  When he was a teenager, he was certified to scuba dive and wanted to be an oceanographer. 20.  Gary loves old-fashioned, multi-colored Christmas lights. In fact, he turns on a set every night that’s strung on his outside trellis. ... View more

SLIDESHOW:  Southwest comes to MSP This past weekend marked the launch our new service to MSP.  We thought you'd enjoy seeing a Slideshow (with pictures & sound) featured on the Star-Tribune web site.  Enjoy, and to all of our new MSP Customers...welcome aboard!   To view, visit: http://www.startribune.com/slideshows/40929517.html?elr=KArksUUUU ... View more

Upgrade Traveler says:  The a-la-carte airfare trend not only mucks with price transparency; it mucks with your reimbursements. To read more, and share your experience, visit:  http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2009/03/06/expense-report-blues-which-add-on-travel-fees-are-being-denied/ ... View more

Southwest Airlines Begins Service to Minneapolis/St. Paul Inaugural Festivities Culminate With Airport Celebration and News Conference   MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL, Minn., March 9 -- Southwest Airlines today showed the Twin Cities what it means 'When LUV Comes to Town' as it celebrated the carrier's inaugural service to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP).  Hundreds of Customers and Employees were on hand as Southwest Airlines' Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO Gary Kelly joined Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) Chairman Jack Lanners, Minneapolis Mayor R. T. Rybak, and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman in a morning news conference at the Humphrey Terminal to launch the new service.  To see Southwest Airlines' full MSP schedule or to book a flight to or from MSP, visit: http://www.southwest.com/?src=PRPRPRNGENR000000080808     "Southwest Airlines promises to bring low fares, great Customer Service, a strong commitment to the community, and of course, no Hidden Fees to the great folks of Minnesota," said Kelly.  "Serving Minneapolis/St. Paul has been on our wishlist for quite some time, and it's a proud day for Southwest Airlines to finally begin flying to the Twin Cities."     Southwest Airlines celebrates the opening of its Minneapolis/St. Paul service today with eight daily nonstop flights to Chicago Midway, with additional direct or connecting service to 57 destinations, including: San Francisco, Denver, and Philadelphia.  Southwest will operate from two gates in the convenient Humphrey Terminal.     Southwest Airlines is offering fares as low as $49 one-way between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Chicago Midway, not including fees and taxes, for travel every day except Fridays and Sundays.  These fares are available on southwest.com only and require 14-day advance purchase for travel by May 20, 2009 (see Fare Rules below).     "The arrival of Southwest Airlines into Minnesota is a welcome boost to the state's economy during a very trying time," said Governor Pawlenty. "Southwest Airlines promises to bring more flight options and competition to MSP, which is good news for our entire state and our residents."     "For years, Southwest Airlines service to the Twin Cities has been only a hope and a goal that we continually sought to fulfill," said Chairman Lanners. "Now, I am pleased to say it is a reality.  Southwest's ticket counters are staffed, its planes are on the ramp, and we look forward to a successful long-term relationship that benefits the airline, the airport, and the community."     "Minneapolis welcomes Southwest Airlines with open arms," said Minneapolis Mayor Rybak.  "The Minneapolis metro areas attract over 18 million visitors annually, and the arrival of Southwest Airlines will no doubt increase the region's visibility and quest to become one of the most visited cities in the U.S."     "From a national political convention to the U.S. Figure Skating Championships to our world-renowned theater and arts, St. Paul welcomes visitors from around the nation throughout the year," said St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman.  "Southwest Airlines will give more options to those visiting the Most Livable City in America and bring more money, more jobs, and more visitors to our great community."     This morning's press conference capped a weekend full of festivities celebrating the inaugural flights (Southwest officially launched service on Sunday, March 8).  Dallas-based Southwest Airlines kicked the weekend off by bringing in approximately 2,300 pounds - more than a ton - of canned chili to donate to the Second Harvest Heartland Food Bank in recognition of Minnesota Food Share Month.  Southwest Airlines also partnered with Cub Foods at ten local grocery stores on Sunday, offering shoppers a chance to win two roundtrip tickets in exchange for purchasing a $5 or $10 prepared food bag to be donated to the Second Harvest Heartland.  The airline recognized the very first Customers onboard both Sunday and Monday's flights by giving away free coffee, cookies, newspapers, computer jumpdrives, and laptop sleeves at the gate.  To see more about the festivities, visit Southwest's blog at: www.blogsouthwest.com.     After nearly 38 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 recently updated its gate areas and improved its boarding procedure to make flying Southwest convenient and simple.  Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) currently serves 65 cities in 33 states (Boston Logan service begins Fall 2009).  Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide.     ADDITIONAL FARE RULES     Fares are only available on www.southwest.com. Southwest Airlines sale fares are available with a 14-day advance purchase now through March 12, 2009, and travel must take place between now and May 20, 2009.   Fares do not include a federal segment tax of $3.60 per takeoff and landing.  Fares do not include airport-assessed passenger facility charges (PFC) of $4.50 and U.S. government-imposed September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 one-way.  Seats are limited. Fares may vary by day of travel and will not be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods. Fares are available for one-way travel. Fares may be combined with other eligible fares. Fares are not combinable with Senior Fares. When combining fares, all rules and restrictions apply. Fares are nonrefundable but may be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines. Fares are not available through the Group Desk. Any change in the itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Standby travel requires an upgrade to the Anytime fare. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Fares are valid on published, scheduled service only.     www.southwest.com ... View more

We get over a hundered tweets a day, and we just had to pass this one along: @SouthwestAir: This kinda made my day, enjoy:  RT @slasher_fun: Dave, the rappin flight attendant, on Southwest Airlines  http://tinyurl.com/6sbrl5   Follow us on Twitter! www.twitter.com/southwestair   ... View more

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES RESPONDS TO FAA’S ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING TODAY’S SETTLEMENT OF PROPOSED PENALTY   DALLAS—March 2, 2009—Southwest Airlines is pleased that we have been able to resolve all outstanding issues with the FAA as we continue to work together to ensure the highest degree of flight safety for the public. This settlement with the FAA will allow us to focus on safety going forward, rather than on issues that are now behind us and that have already been addressed. Through comprehensive audits by the FAA, our own audits, and work by outside consultants, we are confident we have identified and addressed those issues. ... View more

Do you know why Southwest's official airline code is WN and not SW?  Someone on USAToday's Today in the Sky Forum thinks they have the answer... http://www.usatoday.com/community/forums.aspx?plckForumPage=ForumDiscussion&plckDiscussionId=Cat%3a20c2fbbb-131f-47e0-8a47-ff08d3ca9234Forum%3ad6e6cee2-f69f-4a3e-94a5-9c341ca73c3fDiscussion%3af048ba4f-1604-4e4f-9064-d8d9c853d095&plckCategoryCurrentPage=0 ... View more

  Southwest surprises Employee with $10k gift!  To see the video and read the details, visit:  http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-southwest-surprise-022509,0,557679.story ... View more

Southwest Airlines Announces Intent to Begin Service to Boston Logan International Airport in Fall of 2009--Carrier Plans Conservative Start-Up to Complement Existing Network DALLAS, Feb 19, 2009  -- Southwest Airlines today announced its intent to begin service from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) in the Fall of 2009. The carrier has not released specific service details, saying only that it will begin with a conservative number of flights that will complement its 64 airport network. Southwest Airlines Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO Gary Kelly shared the news with Southwest Employees at a Company event in Chicago last night. Visit the Southwest Airlines' Blog (http://www.blogsouthwest.com) to see and hear footage of that announcement. Southwest Airlines has been serving the New England area since 1996 with service at Providence's TF Green International Airport and service at Manchester Boston Regional Airport since 1998. The Boston Logan service will complement the carrier's existing service at other New England airports, allowing Customers to take advantage of Southwest flights from more locations. "Today, more than ever, it's imperative that we make wise decisions on how and where we utilize our aircraft - and we know that Boston Logan Airport is a smart choice for Southwest," said Gary Kelly, Southwest's Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO. "I am confident that Logan will be a great addition to our already strong presence in the New England area. We stand ready to offer this bustling region even more low-fare service and unbeatable Southwest Airlines Customer Service." "We are thrilled to welcome Southwest Airlines to Boston Logan," said Massport's Director of Aviation Edward C. Freni. "At Logan, we are always thinking of our customers and now they will soon be enjoying Southwest's Signature 'Freedom to Fly Approach' to quality customer service." "We plan to begin Logan service with a conservative number of flights and a two gate operation," Kelly said. The Company will release additional details regarding its future Boston Logan International service in the coming months. The Logan service will be made possible by the airline optimizing its current flight schedule and repositioning aircraft. Southwest has not changed its previously announced plan to reduce the Company's available seat miles by approximately four percent in 2009 compared to 2008. 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 March 8, 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. Approximately 100 Southwest Employees conduct a four gate operation at Manchester Boston Regional Airport with 27 daily nonstop departures to eight cities. Southwest's operation at Providence's TF Green International Airport includes four gates, more than 100 Employees, and 31 daily nonstop departures to nine destinations. www.southwest.com ... View more