Southwest Airlines Announces Schedule and Fares to Newark Liberty International Airport

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Oct 28, 2010, 03:30 ET

DALLAS, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines announced today it will serve Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) with eight daily nonstops flights, six to Chicago Midway and two to St. Louis beginning Sunday, March 27, 2011. To celebrate its 72nd city, Southwest is offering introductory fares of $72 one-way between Newark and both Chicago and St. Louis. Fares are available for purchase today through November 4, 2010 for travel March 27, 2011, through May 25, 2011. Customers can find these hot fares only at www.southwest.com (see fare rules below). This announcement is the first wave of the carrier's new schedule at Newark International. Southwest will announce additional Newark flights to begin in 2011 before the end of the year.

"This is a great day for Southwest and for Customers in the New York-New Jersey area. We know the need for great service, low fares, and ontime flights. Southwest is proud to expand its wings into a very popular market and to provide low fare competition," said Gary Kelly, Southwest Airlines Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO. "This proves, once again, the power of our product and the amazing job our Employees have done to position Southwest on the east coast." To read more about this new service, visit www.blogsouthwest.com.

In addition to the eight daily nonstop flights to and from these cities, Southwest Airlines' new service will offer direct or connecting service to more than 45 destinations including: Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Houston, and San Diego. In August, Southwest Airlines announced its intent to serve Newark Liberty International through a lease deal with Continental Airlines contingent upon the closing of the already approved Continental and United airlines' merger, and certain governmental approvals. With this agreement, Southwest Airlines has the right to operate up to 18 daily roundtrip flights at Newark International.

"With the addition of our Newark service, Southwest will offer 11 daily nonstops between Chicago Midway and New York City which will place more of Southwest's low fares in that highly competitive market," said Kelly. "And with the addition of Newark to our route map in March 2011 Southwest will now be able to fulfill additional demand to New York City from our Customers in St. Louis and across the country."

This new Newark service will strengthen Southwest's presence in the New York area, with flights to several New York area airports, including New York LaGuardia and Long Island MacArthur Airport. Additionally, Southwest will integrate Newark service into its extensive national route network.

About Southwest

After nearly 40 years of service, Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) 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, now serving 69 cities in 35 states. Southwest also 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™. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide.

Introductory Fare Rules

Fares are available on www.southwest.com or www.swabiz.com. Southwest Airlines fare sales are available for purchase October 28, 2010, through November 4, 2010, 11:59 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time and travel must take place between March 27, 2011 and May 25, 2011, excluding April 21-25, 2011. Travel valid every day except Fridays and Sundays. Fares do not include a federal excise tax of $3.70 per takeoff and landing. Fares do not include airport-assessed passenger facility charges (PFC) of up to $9.00 and U.S. government-imposed September 11th Security Fee of up to $5.00 one-way. Seats 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. Fares are available for one-way travel. Fares may be combined with other combinable fares. Fares are not combinable with Senior Fares. When combining fares, all rules and restrictions apply. Fares are nonrefundable but may be applied toward the purchase of future travel on Southwest Airlines. Fares are not available through the Group Desk. Any change in the itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Standby travel requires an upgrade to the Anytime fare. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Fares are valid on published, scheduled service only.