Southwest Airlines opens sales for its summer season 2018

Airline adds more flights for California with new nonstop options from Oakland, connects San Antonio with both the Bay Area and Southern Florida, and adds new international gateways connecting more U.S. cities with Cancun, Mexico!

Dallas, TX, 2017-Nov-04 — /Travel PR News/ — Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) is looking forward to summer 2018 as autumn sets in across the U.S. The airline today published its flight schedule through Aug. 6, 2018. The schedule includes new options for California Customers who use Oakland International Airport, and Texas travelers, as well as new gateways to Cancun. Flights are on sale now at Southwest.com.

Investment in the Bay Area

Beginning July 15, 2018, the carrier will offer daily nonstop service between:

Oakland and Indianapolis
Oakland and Minneapolis
Oakland and Orlando1
1Route is currently available on Saturdays through July 14.

“Our decades of investment in California air service continues with new, relevant, nonstop options for Southwest’s East Bay Customers,” said Andrew Watterson, Executive Vice President & Chief Revenue Officer. “We’re connecting Californians with time-saving value at low fares and with hospitality that’s built on a foundation of doing what’s right for our Customers.”

Southwest is thanking their California Customers with the launch of the Southwest California Millions Rapid Rewards® bonus points sweepstakes, Instagram challenge, and special events, giving Californians the chance to win big with up to 100 million Rapid Rewards bonus points.. Visit California Millions to get started.

Alamo City Additions

For the first time, beginning on July 8, 2018, the carrier will offer nonstop service daily between:

San Antonio and Oakland
San Antonio and Ft. Lauderdale

Also from San Antonio, Southwest will resume its seasonal daily service to and from Cancun on June 7, 2018.

Service Adjustments in Michigan

The carrier has made the difficult decision to exit Flint, Mich. (FNT), with the last day of service on June 6, 2018. There will be no Customer impact with today’s decision as tickets won’t be available for sale past the last day of service. However, Southwest remains committed to Michigan with a wide portfolio of destinations available from Detroit and Grand Rapids. Southwest’s 14 FNT Employees will be offered positions elsewhere within the Company.

International Service Grows

Going for Grand in Houston

Southwest announced today that it’s adding seasonal weekly service on Saturdays beginning June 9, 2018, between Houston and one of the carriers’ newest destinations, Grand Cayman (subject to government approvals).

On Saturdays in June, Southwest will offer 18 flights between Houston and 10 international destinations.

Cancun Continues Growing

Thanks to a growing demand for nonstop routes to Cancun, Southwest will add two new international gateways to its domestic route map.

Beginning Saturday, June 9, 2018, the carrier will offer seasonal service on Saturdays between:

Pittsburgh and Cancun*
Raleigh-Durham and Cancun*
*Subject to requiste government approvals

In June, Southwest will offer 27 departures to and from Cancun on Saturdays to 16 cities across the United States, its largest-ever schedule for Cancun.

More Flights to The Bahamas

Also beginning Sunday, June 10, 2018, the carrier will add service between Baltimore/Washington and Nassau, The Bahamas, complementing its Saturday service and daily service between Ft. Lauderdale and Nassau.

New and Resuming Seasonal Service

Beginning June 7, 2018, the carrier will resume daily service in the following seasonal markets:

Denver and Charleston, S.C.
Chicago and San Juan, Puerto Rico
Omaha and Orlando

Beginning June 9, 2018, the carrier will offer new seasonal service on Saturdays between:

Boise and Dallas
Denver and Panama City, Fla.
Tulsa and Orlando

Flights are now available for purchase on Southwest.com.

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ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

In its 47th year of service, Dallas-basedSouthwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 55,000 Employees to a Customer base topping 115 million passengers annually, in recent years. Southwest became the nation’s largest domestic air carrier in 2003 and maintains that ranking based on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s most recent reporting of domestic originating passengers boarded. During peak travel seasons, Southwest operates more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 99 destinations in the United States and nine additional countries. Service to Turks & Caicos is expected to begin Nov. 5, 2017. Southwest has announced its intention to sell tickets in 2018 for service to Hawaii, subject to requisite governmental approvals.

Southwest coined Transfarency® to describe its purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and low fares actually staying 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 carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare differences might apply.

As launch customer of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 in North America, the Company operates the largest fleet in the world of Boeing aircraft, all of which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi. Customers who connect to the WiFi network may use their personal devices to view on-demand movies and television shows, as well as nearly 20 channels of free, live TV.

With a bold new look first unveiled in 2014, Southwest is progressing through a multi-year refresh of its fleet to showcase the carrier’s Heart: a new logo, aircraft livery, interior design featuring new seats, Employee-designed uniforms, and an updated airport experience, all of which showcase a 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 wherever the carrier serves. With 44 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 2016 Southwest Airlines One ReportTM can be found at SouthwestOneReport.com

Book Southwest Airlines’ low fares online at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.

SOURCE: Southwest Airlines

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