Air Transport World Magazine Names Southwest Airlines Eco-Pioneer of the Year

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May 10, 2012, 12:00 ET

DALLAS, May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Transport World (ATW) Magazine today revealed the winners of its inaugural 2012 Eco-Aviation Awards, naming Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) as the Eco-Pioneer of the Year for the airline's focus on efficiency long before environmentally-sound business practices were understood or recognized. Whether it's diverting more than 7,300 tons of material equal to the weight of about 173 Boeing 737-700 aircraft from landfills and into recycling facilities since August 2008 with its co-mingled recycling program, or unveiling Evolve, the carrier's all-new eco-friendly cabin interior that emphasizes comfort and personal space, Southwest continues to operate with a green filter.

Since Southwest's beginnings more than 40 years ago, the LUV airline has always approached business differently—the ten-minute turn, Bags Fly Free, no change fees—the list goes on and on. One thing that has remained constant since Southwest took to the skies four decades ago is doing the right thing for the carrier's triple bottom line focused on Performance, People, and Planet.

About Southwest Airlines

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 and has acquired AirTran Airways, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest serves 73 cities in 38 states and remains 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™. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has more than 39,000 Employees systemwide.

www.southwest.com

SOURCE Southwest Airlines