Southwest Airlines Announces Return of Free Skating in Downtown Denver at "Southwest Rink at Skyline Park"

DENVER, Nov. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) announced that one of Downtown Denver's most popular winter attractions – the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park – will return starting Friday, Nov. 25.  Skating will once again be FREE to the public with the option to bring skates or rent a pair for just $2.  The Southwest Rink at Skyline Park will be located in Skyline Park next to the historic Daniels and Fisher Clocktower and the Southwest Porch at Skyline Park near the intersection of 16th Street and Arapahoe.

"For the second year, we are excited that the Southwest Rink is contributing to the vibrancy of winter in Downtown Denver," said Tami Door, President & CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. "The Rink brings not only activity, but also the sense of fun that Southwest Airlines' corporate citizenship always encompasses."

"We're thrilled to be part of the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park for the second year in a row, bringing visitors and residents alike a fun, outdoor space to enjoy," said Linda Rutherford, Southwest Airlines Vice President Communication and Strategic Outreach.  "When we learned last year that an ice rink was something Denver wanted but did not have, we were thrilled to team up with the Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP) to bring the Rink to life.  Because Denver residents and visitors enjoyed it so much last year, it was an easy decision to once again partner with DDP to make free ice skating available this winter for everyone to enjoy."

The Southwest Rink at Skyline Park will be open seven days a week from Nov. 25 through Valentine's Day, two weeks longer than last year based on skater feedback.  Visit www.southwestrink.com for more information. Last year, the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park welcomed more than 31,000 skaters.  In addition to live concerts and celebrity DJ appearances, broomball games and skating performances, visitors may have witnessed a number of spontaneous, exciting events that happened at the Rink last year.  There were six marriage proposals, a wedding party photo shoot, and a visit from the national snowboarding team from the Netherlands – just to name a few.  The Rink is made possible by a public-private partnership among the DDP, City of Denver Parks, and Recreation Department and Southwest Airlines.

Southwest Airlines began service to Denver on Jan. 3, 2006, with 13 daily nonstop departures to three destinations.  The airline currently operates 154 daily nonstop flights to 47 destinations from Denver.  Southwest is also actively engaged in the community through sponsorships of the Downtown Denver Partnership, the Denver Nuggets, Red Rocks Amphitheater, Denver's Road Home, the Mile High Pedicab Company, and many more local organizations.  To learn more about Southwest's dedication to Denver, visit: www.southwest.com/denver.  

About Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc.

The Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc. is a non-profit business organization that creatively plans, manages and develops Downtown Denver as the unique, diverse, vibrant and economically healthy urban core of the Rocky Mountain region. For more information, visit www.downtowndenver.com.

About Southwest Airlines

In its 40th year 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 nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded and has recently acquired AirTran Airways, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest serves 72 cities in 37 states and is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report(TM). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,400 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide.

www.southwest.com

SOURCE Southwest Airlines