It's A Fare-a-Buster! Southwest Airlines Gives DC Travelers New Routes And Low Fares

DALLAS, March 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) today announced that it is more than doubling its flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) with seven new nonstop routes and additional connecting itineraries beginning this summer. 

"By year's end, we'll offer 44 daily departures to 14 destinations from Reagan National Airport," said Ron Ricks, Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President and Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer.  "We've been interested in expanding at Washington National for a long time.  Southwest appreciates the efforts of the U.S. Department of Justice in making this historic opportunity possible and providing us with the ability to grow at this important airport.  We also thank the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) for its leadership in providing convenient accommodation for our new DCA service.  Southwest looks forward to bringing more of our low-fare, large-jet, Customer-friendly service to travelers who work and live close to Reagan National."  The new service, made possible by a recent divestiture of take-off and landing slots, begins with special introductory pricing as low as $84 for travel every day except Fridays and Sundays (see detailed fare rules below).

Beginning Aug. 10, 2014, Southwest Airlines will add daily, nonstop flights between Washington National Airport and:

• Chicago (Midway) with six roundtrips at introductory fares as low as $119 one-way
• Nashville with three roundtrips at introductory fares as low as $129 one-way
• New Orleans with two roundtrips at introductory fares as low as $129 one-way

Beginning Sept. 30, 2014, Southwest will further add to its DCA service:

• Tampa Bay, with two roundtrips at introductory fares as low as $84 one-way
• Three additional flights to Chicago (Midway) for a total of nine daily roundtrips. This expanded pattern of service to Midway will also enable Southwest to provide convenient one-stop and connecting flights throughout the day between DCA and more than 40 other cities across the United States. Flights and fares are available now at southwest.com.

Beginning Nov. 2, 2014, Southwest Airlines will add additional daily nonstop service between Washington Reagan National Airport and:

• Akron-Canton (new route)
• Dallas Love Field (new route)
• Houston (Hobby) (additional flights)
• Indianapolis (new route)
• St. Louis (additional flights)

The carrier will publish its November schedules in mid-May, allowing Customers to book these DCA flights and previously announced new nonstop options for its Dallas Customers at southwest.com.

Southwest Airlines also today announces new service between:

• St. Louis and San Francisco, daily nonstop roundtrip begins Sept. 30, 2014, at introductory fares as low as $119 one-way
• Los Angeles and Omaha, daily nonstop roundtrip begins June 9, 2014, at introductory fares as low as $159 one-way
• St. Louis and Los Angeles, third daily nonstop roundtrip begins June 8, 2014
• Boise and Los Angeles, (Saturday only) nonstop roundtrip begins June 14, 2014

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES FARE RULES

Purchase from March 24 through March 27, 2014, 11:59 pm in the respective time zone of the originating city. Travel between Washington Reagan National Airport and Chicago (Midway), Washington Reagan National Airport and Nashville, and Washington Reagan National Airport and New Orleans is available Aug. 11 through Oct. 30. Travel between San Francisco and St. Louis and Washington Reagan National Airport and Tampa Bay is available Sept. 30 through Oct. 30. Travel between Omaha and Los Angeles (LAX) is available June 9 through June 30. Travel valid every day except Fridays & Sundays. Some flights operated by AirTran Airways®. Displayed prices include all U.S. and international government taxes and fees. Seats are limited. Fares may vary by destination, flight, and day of week and won't 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 Southwest Airlines® combinable fares. If combining with other fares, the most restrictive fare's rules apply. Introductory fares may be available on Fridays and Sundays in limited quantities. Fares are nonrefundable but may be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines®, so long as you cancel your reservations at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure of your flight. Failure to cancel prior to departure will result in forfeiture of remaining funds on the reservation. Any change in itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Standby travel requires an upgrade to the Anytime fare. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Offer applies to published, scheduled service only.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

In its 43rd year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 45,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually. Southwest is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded and operates the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world to serve 96 destinations in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and five near-international countries via wholly-owned subsidiary, AirTran Airways. Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for its triple bottom line approach that takes into account the carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities it serves, and its commitment to efficiency and the planet. The 2012 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found at southwest.com/citizenship.

From its first flights on June 18, 1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and increase in passenger traffic wherever the carrier serves. With Southwest Airlines, Bags Fly Free ® (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply), and there are no change fees when you need to change your flight. Southwest's fleet offers leather seating and the comfort of full-size cabins, a majority of which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi connectivity over the United States, which enables live and video-on-demand TV currently FREE compliments of DISH, and a new, sustainable cabin interior. Southwest acquired AirTran Airways in May 2011 and by the end of 2014 intends to complete the full integration of the AirTran network into Southwest. With 41 consecutive years of profitability, the People of Southwest and AirTran operate more than 3,600 flights a day. Southwest Airlines' frequent flights and low fares are available online at southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.

SOURCE Southwest Airlines