Southwest Airlines And AirTran Airways Extend Schedules Through May 2013 With New Southwest Destinations

DALLAS, Oct. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) announced today future service details affecting four AirTran Airways cities that will convert to Southwest Airlines service in Spring 2013.

Beginning April 14, 2013, Southwest Airlines Nonstop Service will be offered between:

• Charlotte and Baltimore/Washington, Chicago (Midway), Houston (Hobby), and Orlando
• Flint and Baltimore/Washington, Orlando, and Tampa Bay
• Portland, Maine and Baltimore/Washington
• Rochester and Baltimore/Washington, Chicago (Midway), Orlando, and Tampa Bay

AirTran service in these cities will end the previous day, April 13, 2013.

To celebrate the new service, the carrier announced a fare sale offering one-way fares on the new routes of between $69 and $159. For example, Customers may travel for $69 one-way between Baltimore/Washington and Charlotte.  Between Chicago (Midway) and Rochester, fares are as low as $99 one-way.  These fares must be booked by Oct. 28 for travel between April 14 and May 22, 2013. See fare rules below. To take advantage of these special fares, visit southwest.com.

The newly released flight schedule extends to May 31, 2013, the booking window for travel on both Southwest and AirTran.  To download flight schedules for these new Southwest Cities and view an updated map of the Southwest and AirTran networks, visit swamedia.com.

New International Service

In addition to seasonal and other itinerary changes across the 97 destinations served by both carriers, AirTran's international footprint grows with the new schedule to include new, daily service beginning April 14, 2013, between Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and Baltimore/Washington, subject to applicable governmental approval. 

Additional New Service on Southwest Airlines beginning April 14, 2013:

• One daily nonstop flight between Boston Logan and Kansas City
• One daily nonstop flight between Houston (Hobby) and Pittsburgh

ADDITIONAL FARE RULES

Fares are available only on southwest.com and swabiz.com and can be purchased today, through Oct. 28, 2012, 11:59 pm PT.  Travel must take place between April 14, 2013, and May 22, 2013.  Fares are valid for travel every day except Sundays; with the exception of April 14, 2013. Seats are limited. Fares may vary by destinations, 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 combinable fares, except Senior Fares. When combining fares, all rules and restrictions apply. Fares are nonrefundable but may be applied toward the purchase of 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.

* Government-imposed taxes and fees are now included in the advertised fare. To comply with new government regulations, all airlines must include government-imposed taxes and fees in advertised air fares.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

In its 42^nd year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers by providing reliability and exemplary Customer Service delivered by 46,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers every year.  Including wholly owned subsidiary AirTran Airways, the Company operates the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world to serve 97 destinations in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and six near-international countries.

Visit southwest.com/citizenship to read the Southwest Airlines One Report™ and see how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen while underscoring a commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet.

Southwest Airlines

From its first flights on June 18, 1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented affordability in air travel quantified by the U.S. Department of Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares wherever the carrier serves. Southwest now flies the most passengers nonstop of any U.S. airline and stands alone among major air carriers in offering all Customers the first two pieces of checked luggage (weight and size limitations apply) and all ticket changes without additional fees.  On every flight, Southwest consistently offers leather seating and the comfort of full-size cabins across the world's largest fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft, many of which are being equipped with satellite-based WiFi connectivity and a new, eco-friendly cabin interior featuring sustainable materials. Having achieved a 39^th consecutive year of profitability, the People of Southwest operate more than 3,200 flights a day and serve communities around 77 airports in Southwest's network of domestic destinations.  Southwest Airlines' frequent flights and low fares are available only at southwest.com.

AirTran Airways

AirTran Airways, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co., has been ranked top airline in the Airline Quality Rating study three times in the past five years. AirTran offers coast-to-coast and near-international service with close to 600 flights a day to 56 55 destinations.  The carrier's low-cost, high-quality product includes assigned seating and Business Class. As Southwest continues to integrate AirTran's People, places, and planes into Southwest Airlines, Customers of both carriers may book flights at airtran.com and exchange earned loyalty points between both AirTran's A+ Rewards® and Southwest's Rapid Rewards® for reward travel on either airline.

southwest.com

SOURCE Southwest Airlines