Southwest Airlines is Here to Say - It's NEA's 'Read Across America' Day!

DALLAS, March 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) is taking Seuss-style rhymes to the skies to help the National Education Association (NEA) promote and commemorate reading, learning, and community in celebration of NEA's Read Across America Day and Dr. Seuss' birthday. 

Southwest considers itself much more than just a business; it's a good neighbor in the communities in which Customers live.  Involvement with NEA's Read Across America aligns with Southwest's commitment to Customers, youth involvement, and environmental stewardship.

"Doing our part to take care of the communities we serve has always been a priority among our Company and Employees," said Linda Rutherford, Vice President Communication and Strategic Outreach at Southwest Airlines.  "Promoting youth involvement and environmental education falls nicely within our commitment to the Triple Bottom line—Performance, People, and Planet.  We couldn't be more excited to help NEA's cause."

"Every year on NEA's Read Across America Day, the imaginations of children across the country are ignited when they open up a good book," said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. "NEA is pleased to join with Southwest Airlines to promote the importance of reading in school, at home, or inflight. NEA's Read Across America brings students, parents, educators, and the entire community together to share the joy of reading."

Southwest Customers have long enjoyed the carrier's entertaining inflight announcements. Customers flying on March 2 and March 3 may experience some extra rhymes in the skies as rhyme-time commences on select flights.  Flight Attendants have been encouraged to wear Seuss-style flair and to deliver their pre-flight announcements in Seussical rhyme.  Younger Customers will be invited to read Dr. Seuss stories over the PA on select flights. 

Saturday, March 3, Southwest will launch a rhyming Twitter contest to see which @SouthwestAir follower tweets the best rhyme about Southwest Airlines for a chance to win four roundtrip tickets on Southwest Airlines.

Also on Saturday, March 3, the airline will welcome a very special guest to its home base at Dallas Love Field Airport.  The Lorax, in town as part of the NEA's Read Across America Tour—Driven by Mazda—will drop by Love Field Airport to visit with Southwest Customers and share his love of reading and environmental stewardship!  Southwest representatives will be on hand giving away Dr. Seuss books to Customers while NEA and Mazda representatives hand out educational materials and encourage people to sign a reading pledge.

Click here to read a special blog post about Southwest's involvement with NEA's Read Across America.  Southwest Airlines has been a proud supporter of the National Education Association for the past five years through joint projects with various minority community outreach efforts, support of NEA's Priority Schools Campaign, and by serving on the NEA Business Advisory Council. 

About Southwest Airlines Co.
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. Southwest serves 73 cities in 38 states and 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 more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/citizenship to read the Southwest Airlines One Report(TM). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has more than 37,000 Employees systemwide.

About National Education Association
The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.  For more information on NEA's Read Across America, visit: www.nea.org/readacross

SOURCE Southwest Airlines