Southwest Airlines Announces New Flights From Denver and Austin to Cancun Operated by AirTran Airways

DALLAS, Feb. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) and its wholly owned subsidiary AirTran Airways announced today the carriers received route authority approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for AirTran to operate new international flights between Denver International Airport and Cancun International Airport and between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Cancun International Airport.* Austin is a new market for AirTran Airways, joining Denver and Cancun on AirTran's current route map. AirTran's new international flight schedule will now include the following flights:

Between Denver and Cancun:

• Daily roundtrip service starting April 16, 2012, through July 7, 2012
• Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday service starting July 8, 2012, through Aug. 12, 2012
• Saturday and Sunday service starting Aug. 13, 2012, through the end of the schedule (currently Sept. 28, 2012)

Between Austin and Cancun:

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday roundtrip flights starting May 25, 2012, through Aug. 31, 2012
• Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday roundtrip flights starting Sept. 1, 2012, through the end of the schedule (currently Sept. 28, 2012)

In addition to the new international service, AirTran will operate new domestic roundtrip service between Houston Hobby and San Antonio and between Houston Hobby and Austin to support the international flying.  The new service between Houston and San Antonio begins May 24, 2012, and the new service between Houston and Austin begins May 25, 2012. Both roundtrips are scheduled to operate through the end of the current flight schedule (which is Sept. 28, 2012).

"We are excited to offer more domestic markets new opportunities to travel to Mexico," said Bob Jordan, Southwest Airlines' Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer and AirTran Airways President. "The additional service is one way Customers are already realizing the benefits of the Southwest and AirTran acquisition."

To book these flights, please visit www.airtranairways.com or www.southwest.com.

Today's announcement adds to the new AirTran international service scheduled to begin May 24, 2012, between San Antonio and Cancun and between San Antonio and Mexico City. Additionally, beginning June 3, 2012, AirTran will initiate service between Orange County, Calif., and Cabo San Lucas/San Jose del Cabo and between Orange County and Mexico City.

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. With the addition of Atlanta (which opens on Feb. 12, 2012), Southwest will serve 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(TM). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 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

*These flights and start dates are subject to foreign government approval.

SOURCE Southwest Airlines