Southwest Airlines Applies For Additional Slots At Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport To Serve Houston Hobby

DALLAS, Dec. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) today announced it has filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for slot exemptions that would allow Southwest to offer nonstop service between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU).  The proposed service is possible due to Spirit Airlines' discontinued use of the slot exemptions, which are available for use inside Washington National's traditional 1,250 mile service perimeter.

Southwest's application points out that current average fares for nonstop service between Houston and Washington National are more than 60 percent higher than Southwest's average nonstop fare between Houston and Baltimore/Washington International (BWI), a similar distance. Southwest projects that its proposed HOU-DCA service would attract tens of thousands of new Passengers and save consumers millions of dollars annually.

As part of the effort to bring a low-fare alternative to the HOU-DCA market, Southwest is unveiling www.Southwest.com/HOU-DCA. Visitors to www.Southwest.com/HOU-DCA  can receive additional information and sign a petition in support of Southwest's proposed service.

"Houston is one of Southwest Airlines' three original cities, and this proposed new service is another example of our strong commitment to continue adding value to the community," said Gary Kelly, Southwest Airlines Chairman, President, and CEO. "By taking action now at www.Southwest.com/HOU-DCA, Houstonians and all travelers can make their voices heard that competition is a good thing, and lower fares are vitally important in these challenging economic times."

A decision by the DOT is expected in the first quarter of 2013. Southwest is prepared to begin service this spring if awarded the slots.

Southwest has served Houston since June 18, 1971, and currently has more than 2,700 HOU Employees serving 143 flights every day. Earlier this year, the Houston City Council approved the carrier's proposal to construct a new five-gate international facility at Hobby Airport. This new service is scheduled to begin in 2015.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 42nd year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by nearly 46,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually.  Southwest is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating passengers boarded, and including wholly-owned subsidiary, AirTran Airways, 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. Southwest 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 about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good corporate citizen, visit southwest.com/citizenship to read the Southwest Airlines One Report™.

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SOURCE Southwest Airlines