Southwest Airlines Cargo Awarded Highest Honors For Excellence In Air Cargo

DALLAS, March 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Cargo receives continued recognition for excellence in air cargo and has once again been recognized in Air Cargo World's annual Air Cargo Excellence (ACE) Survey as the Diamond Award winner of the "up to 299,999 tonnes" category. The Diamond Award is the top award given in this category. Southwest was the highest rated carrier in three of the four performance categories: Customer Service, Performance, and Value.

"This prestigious recognition represents the tremendous commitment and hard work of our Employees in many different capacities across our system," says Vice President of Cargo & Charters Matt Buckley. "We are honored to receive this award, however, we realize this is a journey, and we will continue to work diligently towards improving the Customer experience."

"Southwest communicates to its customer base a sincere desire to provide them with the very best in service and value," says Publisher of Air Cargo World Steve Prince. "Their success is built upon customer satisfaction, and having won the Diamond Award in consecutive years clearly demonstrates they are achieving their mission."

The Airforwarders Association presented Southwest with the "Domestic Carrier of the Year" Award for the fourth year in a row. The award was presented based upon Southwest's ontime performance, Customer Service, problem resolution, claims handling, technology support, service options, and overall value.

"The Airforwarders Association recently awarded its 2013 Domestic Carrier of the year award to Southwest Airlines in recognition of the airline's outstanding performance," said Executive Director of AfA Brandon Fried. "The members wish to congratulate Southwest on its ongoing commitment to quality and on receiving this highly esteemed honor, and look forward to working together in delivering high quality standards essential to our mutual success."

In addition, Southwest is proud to be recognized for excellence at this year's Air Cargo 2013 Conference.  Southwest received the "Domestic Airline of the Year" Award, along with the award for "Excellence in Web Site and Technology" by the Express Delivery & Logistics Association (XLA). This is the 13^th year Southwest has been placed on XLA's Airline of the Year list and the third year the Excellence in Web Site and Technology Award has been received. 

"The Express Delivery and Logistics Association (XLA) annually surveys its membership on the levels of service, value, reliability, and performance provided by the airlines cargo teams," said Executive Director Express Delivery and Logistics Association Jim Conway. "The results of this service serve as the basis for our Airline Excellence Awards.  At the March Air Cargo Conference in Las Vegas, the XLA was pleased to announce that Southwest Airlines was voted as the top Domestic Airline for cargo performance.  Additionally, Southwest Airlines was also recognized with the Award for Best Web & Technology. The Board of Directors and membership of the XLA offer our congratulations for these achievements and the resulting awards to the entire Southwest Cargo team."

The ACE Survey, published annually by Air Cargo World, acknowledges Cargo Carriers for achievements in air cargo excellence and is based on a survey conducted by Air Cargo World of more than 600 members of the freight forwarding industries. The XLA Awards are based on an annual survey of association members who use the services of commercial passenger airlines for their express deliveries around the world. The Airforwarders Association is an alliance of Indirect Air Carriers, Cargo Airlines, and affiliated businesses located throughout the global transportation community.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CARGO
Southwest Airlines' Relentlessly Reliable Employees offer Cargo Customers expedited air cargo service to destinations across the map, including complimentary Road Feeder Service and interline destinations.  With more than 200 million pounds of available cargo lift domestically per month, Southwest is proud to operate a majority of their Cargo Facilities from coast-to-coast, providing Customers with award-winning Customer Service. 

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 42^nd 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 triple bottom line thinking that takes into account the carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of the People who work there and the communities it serves, and its commitment to efficiency and the Planet.  The 2011 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found at southwest.com/citizenship.

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 and increase in passenger traffic wherever the carrier serves.  On every flight, Southwest offers Customers the first two pieces of checked luggage (weight and size limitations apply) and all ticket changes without additional fees. Southwest's all Boeing fleet consistently offers leather seating and the comfort of full-size cabins, many of which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi connectivity and a new, sustainable cabin interior.  With 40 consecutive years of profitability, the People of Southwest operate more than 3,200 flights a day and serve communities around 78 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., offers coast-to-coast and near-international service with close to 600 flights a day to 54 destinations.  The carrier's 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