AirTran Airways Officially Launches Its First International Flight From Denver International Airport With New Service to Cancun

DALLAS, April 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), announced today that the carrier is officially launching brand new international service between Denver International Airport and Cancun International Airport.  The new route was announced in February, and the first flight departs Denver International Airport today at 10:40 a.m. MDT.  Today's departure marks AirTran's first international destination and flight from Denver International Airport.  As always, Customers can book travel on this new route at: www.airtran.com or www.southwest.com.

Service Between Denver and Cancun:

• Daily roundtrip service operates today through July 7, 2012
• Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday service starts July 8, 2012, through Aug. 12, 2012
• Saturday and Sunday service starts Aug. 13, 2012, through the end of the schedule (currently Nov. 2, 2012)

"This new service is important as it marks AirTran's first international flight from the Mile High city," said Bob Jordan, Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer and AirTran Airways President.  "As we continue our integration of AirTran into Southwest, our Customers will realize the benefits of our combined network, which is robust from Denver."  

Just last week, Southwest announced that Members of the airline's frequent flyer program, Rapid Rewards, can earn bonus points when booking select international flights on AirTran Airways, including the new service between Denver and Cancun.  The promotion will reward Rapid Rewards Members 5,000 bonus points for each qualifying roundtrip flight or 2,500 bonus points for each qualifying one-way flight.  Rapid Rewards Members must be a member of the AirTran A+ Rewards Program and register for the promotion at http://www.southwest.com/rrairtran5000points between April 9 and Aug. 31, 2012.  Qualifying flights will need to be booked between April 9 and Aug. 31, 2012, for travel between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2012 (qualifying routes and service start dates listed below.)  The Rapid Rewards Bonus Points will be deposited into Members' accounts six to eight weeks after the promotion has ended on Aug. 31, 2012.  Members also will receive the standard A+ Rewards flight credit earned through the AirTran A+ Rewards program.  Customers wanting to enroll in Rapid Rewards may click here, and Customers wanting to enroll in A+ Rewards may click here.

Additional growth of AirTran's international route map that Southwest has announced: San Antonio to Cancun and Mexico City*, starting May 24; Austin to Cancun, starting May 25; Orange County to Los Cabos and Mexico City*, starting June 3; and Chicago/Midway to Cancun*, starting June 3.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST
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 acquired AirTran Airways, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest serves 73 cities in 38 states and remains 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™. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has more than 37,000 Employees.

ABOUT AIRTRAN
AirTran Airways, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co., has been ranked the top airline in the Airline Quality Rating study twice in the past four years. AirTran offers Gogo Inflight Internet Connectivity and coast-to-coast service on North America's newest all-Boeing fleet. The airline's low-cost, high-quality product also includes assigned seating and Business Class. To book a flight, visit airtran.com.

southwest.com   www.airtran.com 

MEDIA: Please call Communications (214) 792-4847   |   CUSTOMERS: Please call 800-Air-Tran (800-247-8726)

SOURCE AirTran Airways