Southwest Airlines Announces New Flights To Mexico Operated by AirTran Airways

DALLAS, Dec. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) and its wholly owned subsidiary AirTran Airways announced today the carriers received route authority approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for AirTran to operate international flights to new destinations in Mexico beginning as early as May 24, 2012. AirTran's new international flights will include one daily roundtrip between Orange County, Calif., and Cabo San Lucas/San Jose del Cabo* and one daily roundtrip between Orange County and Mexico City.* AirTran also will initiate four weekly roundtrip flights between San Antonio and Cancun* as well as one daily roundtrip flight between San Antonio and Mexico City.*

"With the DOT's approval, we are excited to now make these destinations available for sale to both AirTran and Southwest's Customers," said Bob Jordan, Southwest Airlines' Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer and AirTran Airways President. "The new service is another direct benefit of Southwest's acquisition of AirTran as we take low fares farther by expanding our route maps to more places Customers want to go."     

Examples of these one-way fares include (see Fare Rules below):

AirTran new service beginning May 24, 2012 (open for sale today):

• $119 one-way between San Antonio and Cancun
• $119 one-way between San Antonio and Mexico City

AirTran new service beginning June 3, 2012 (open for sale today):

• $119 one-way between Orange County and Cabo San Lucas/San Jose del Cabo
• $109 one-way between Orange County and Mexico City

To celebrate the new international service, AirTran launched a fare sale today with fares as low as $109 one-way between the new destinations.  Customers must book by Dec. 19, 2011, in order to take advantage of these low fares. Currently, all reservations for AirTran flights—including international destinations—must be booked on www.airtran.com, by calling AirTran reservations at (800) 247-8726, or through a travel agent. Southwest Customers can now see AirTran's nonstop international routes on southwest.com through its new web referral tool which links Customers directly to www.airtran.com. When Customers select an international itinerary from a nonstop destination on Southwest's site, they will then be directed to www.airtran.com where they can complete the booking process.  All flights booked on www.airtran.com will be subject to AirTran's policies and procedures.     

To support the new international flights out of Orange County's John Wayne International Airport, a market AirTran does not currently serve, AirTran will add domestic service between San Francisco and Orange County with one daily roundtrip flight, and one daily roundtrip flight between Las Vegas and Orange County, beginning June 3, 2012.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST

Southwest Airlines, which this year celebrated its 40th Anniversary, 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. With the addition of Atlanta (which opens on Feb. 12, 2012), Southwest will serve 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/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 37,000 Employees.

ABOUT AIRTRAN

AirTran Airways, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co., has been ranked the top airline in the Airline Quality Rating study twice in the past four years. AirTran offers Gogo Inflight Internet Connectivity and coast-to-coast service on North America's newest all-Boeing fleet. The airline's low-cost, high-quality product also includes assigned seating and Business Class. To book a flight, visit airtran.com.

Introductory Fare Rules

All fares are one-way. Fares do not include segment taxes of $3.70 per segment. A segment is defined as a takeoff and a landing. Fares shown do not include Airport Passenger Facility Charges of up to $18 roundtrip. The September 11th Security Fee of up to $10 roundtrip is not included. Fares to/from Bermuda, Mexico and the Caribbean do not include additional government taxes of up to $100. All fares are nonrefundable and a $75 fee per person applies to any change made after purchase, plus any applicable increase in airfare. Seats are limited, subject to availability, and may not be available on all flights. Fares available for purchase Dec. 5, 2011, through Dec. 19, 2011, 11:59 p.m. PST. Fares are available for travel between San Antonio and Cancun or Mexico City beginning May 24, 2012, through June 26, 2012, with a blackout date of May 28, 2012. Fares are available for travel between Orange County and Cabo San Lucas/San Jose del Cabo or Mexico City beginning June 3, 2012, through June 26, 2012, with blackout dates of June 10, June 17, and June 24, 2012. Sale fares between San Antonio and Cancun or Mexico City are valid for travel every day except Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Sale fares between Orange County and Cabo San Lucas/San Jose del Cabo or Mexico City are valid for travel every day except Fridays and Saturdays. A first bag may be checked for a fee of $20 each way and a second bag may be checked for a fee of $25 each way. Reservations may be made via AirTran Airways Telephone Reservations Center for a fee of $15. Reservations may also be changed via AirTran Airways Telephone Reservations Center for a $15 fee plus any applicable change fees and fare differences. Fares, routes, and schedules are subject to change without notice.

southwest.com

*These flights and start dates are subject to foreign government approval.

SOURCE Southwest Airlines