Southwest Airlines applies for new international service between Los Angeles and Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos

DALLAS, 2016-May-23 — /Travel PR News/ — Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today extended its bookable flight schedule from early November through Jan. 4, 2017, offering new nonstop service options through Southwest.com for Customers flying Southwest® in every time zone of the continental U.S.  The new routes were published a day after Southwest Airlines Chairman, President & CEO Gary Kelly announced that the carrier will file an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation for authority to offer new, daily and year-round international service later this year between Los Angeles (LAX) and three cities in Mexico: Cancun (CUN),Puerto Vallarta (PVR), and San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos (SJD).

“We’re ready to go and if we get the authority by the end of June, we’ll immediately begin selling the flights and operate them commencing in November,” Kelly said at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders held Wednesday in Chicago.  “The Southwest Effect is taking hold in international markets where we already serve, and we expect these popular leisure markets will resonate with our loyal California Customers.”

The authority would enable Southwest to provide its low-fare service on popular routes as the two countries bring the pending U.S. – Mexico Aviation Agreement into effect.

In celebration of additional nonstop service announced and on sale today, special fares are available on nonstop, domestic flights except Fridays and Sundays now through May 26, 2016, 11:59 p.m. in the time zone of the originating city, for travel Nov. 6 through Dec. 17, 2016.  (Blackout dates apply. Seats are limited. Travel/to from Florida or Nevada is valid only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Fares not available to/from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Please reference detailed terms and conditions below.)

New, nonstop service now available at Southwest.com begins Nov 6, 2016, between:

Washington Reagan Natl. and Providence, R.I.	one-way as low as $49
Washington Dulles and Orlando	one-way as low as $49
San Jose, Calif. and Salt Lake City	one-way as low as $69
Kansas City and San Antonio	one-way as low as $79
Baltimore/Washington and San Jose, Calif.	one-way as low as $159

“Two new nonstop routes here in San Jose, a city we’ve served since 1993, typifies the kind of difference we aim to make in connecting many of our long-time markets with time-saving service,” said Andrew Watterson, Southwest’s Senior Vice President of Network and Revenue, speaking at a news conference at Mineta San Jose International Airport.  “We carry more people both to-and-from California every day—as well within the Golden State–than anyone else with a value that no one else can even approach.”  Similar airport events in San Antonio and Providence, R.I., celebrated the service newly published onSouthwest.com.

The newly published and proposed service aligns with the carrier’s planned 2016 year-over-year available seat mile growth in the 5-6 percent range.

FARES TERMS & CONDITIONS

Purchase today through May 26, 2016, 11:59 p.m. in the time zone of the originating city for travel Nov. 6 through Dec. 17, 2016, except Fridays, Sundays, and blacked-out dates Nov. 22, 23 & Nov. 26-28, 2016. Travel to/from Florida is valid only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Fares are valid only on domestic, nonstop service. Displayed prices include all U.S. government taxes and fees. Points bookings do not include taxes, fees, and other government/airport charges of at least $5.60 per one way flight. Fares not available to/from San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Seats and days are limited. Fares may vary by destination, flight, and day of week and won’t be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods. Travel is available for one-way Wanna Get Away® Fares. Fares may be combined with other Southwest combinable fares. If combining with other fares, the most restrictive fare’s rules apply. Sale fares may be available on other days of week, but not guaranteed. Fares are nonrefundable but may be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines®, so long as reservations are canceled at least ten minutes prior to the scheduled departure of the flight. Failure to cancel prior to departure will result in forfeiture of remaining funds in the reservation. Any change in an itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Standby travel requires an upgrade to the Anytime Fare. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Offers apply only to published, scheduled service.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Specific forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements related to the Company’s anticipated service offerings and network and capacity plans, opportunities, and expectations. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by them. Factors include, among others, (i) the impact of economic conditions, consumer behavior, fuel prices, actions of competitors (including without limitation pricing, scheduling, and capacity decisions and consolidation and alliance activities), and other factors beyond the Company’s control, on the Company’s business decisions, plans, and strategies; (iii) the impact of governmental regulations and other governmental actions related to the Company’s operations; and (iii) other factors, as described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the detailed factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2015.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 45th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 50,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually. Southwest proudly operates across a network of 97 destinations in the United States and seven additional countries, with service to Long Beach, California, beginning June 5, 2016, and has more than 3,900 departures a day during peak travel season.

Based on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s most recent data, Southwest Airlines is the nation’s largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded. The Company operates the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world, the majority of which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi providing gate-to-gate connectivity.  That connectivity enables Customers to use their personal devices to view video on-demand movies and television shows, as well as more than 20 channels of free, live TV compliments of our valued Partners. Southwest created Transfarency℠, a philosophy which treats Customers honestly and fairly, and in which low fares actually stay low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free®  to everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some airlines may allow free checked bags on select routes or for qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare differences might apply. In 2014, the airline proudly unveiled a bold new look:  Heart.  The new aircraft livery, airport experience, and logo, showcase the dedication of Southwest Employees to connect Customers with what’s important in their lives.

From its first flights on June 18, 1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of Transportation as “The Southwest Effect,” a lowering of fares and increase in passenger traffic whenever the carrier enters new markets.  With 43 consecutive years of profitability, Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier’s performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet. The 2015 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found at SouthwestOneReport.com.

Book Southwest Airlines’ low fares online at Southwest.com or by phone within the United States by dialing 800-I-FLY-SWA.

Media Contacts:

Visit the Southwest Newsroom at swamedia.com for multi-media assets and other Company news.  Media Relations Team: 214-792-4847, option 1

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