Southwest Airlines and AMFA Appearance Techs Reach Tentative Agreement

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May 13, 2011, 11:26 ET

DALLAS, May 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), who represent the carrier's approximately 260 Appearance Techs, are proud to announce the parties have reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year contract that becomes amendable February 2015. The current collective bargaining agreement became amendable in February 2009.

"I want to congratulate both sides for reaching this tentative agreement that delivers mutually beneficial enhancements to pay, benefits, and work rules to our dedicated Appearance Techs," said Mike Van de Ven, Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. "The negotiating teams were able to balance our competitive needs with our Appearance Techs' requests to come to an agreement as we enter into our 40th year of operation."

In the upcoming weeks, the AMFA membership will be given the full details of the agreement and will have the opportunity to vote on ratification. Southwest Airlines Appearance Techs are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the carrier's fleet and its aircraft parts.

In its 40th year of service, 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 recently acquired AirTran Airways, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest serves 72 cities in 37 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/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report(TM). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,400 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide.

www.southwest.com

SOURCE Southwest Airlines