Southwest Continues Growth Plans; Airline Announces More New Flights for
April, May
DALLAS, March 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines (NYSE:
LUV
<http://alliance.marketwatch.com/custom/alliance/interactivechart.asp?sy
mb=LUV&astyle=0,0,0,0,0,0,0,10,0,0&c=179&urlpull=&logourl=&post=0> )
today announced it will add seven new flights to its schedule as it
continues
to recover and conservatively resume growth plans.
The new service will be made possible by three previously deferred
deliveries of aircraft from The Boeing Co. The deliveries -- one in
April and
two in May -- will make possible two new nonstop routes between
Sacramento and
Orange County and between Chicago Midway and Los Angeles.
With these three additional aircraft, Southwest will have accepted
delivery of 12 aircraft in 2002, bringing its fleet to a total of 364
Boeing
737 aircraft. These 12 aircraft are part of the 19 aircraft deliveries
deferred last fall.
On April 7, 2002, Southwest will initiate new nonstop service
between
Sacramento and John Wayne Airport in Orange County with four daily
flights.
On May 5, 2002, Southwest will initiate new nonstop service between
Chicago Midway and Los Angeles International Airport with three daily
roundtrip flights. A seven-day advance purchase fare of $89 each way
based on
a roundtrip purchase also is available on this new nonstop service
through
May 5.
"We are approaching growth opportunities conservatively, but we know
our
Customers have been anxious for this new nonstop service," said Jim
Parker,
Southwest's CEO and vice chairman. "Although the airline is still in
the
recovery process, we cannot forget the wishes of our Customers to
continue to
bring low fares and affordable travel to more people with more
convenient
flights."
Parker said the airline's Employees have been working feverishly on
initiatives to make the airport experience more convenient in the new
environment of heightened security. Although he acknowledged that the
Company
is unable to determine whether or not it will be profitable for first
quarter
2002, he remains optimistic that growth plans can proceed cautiously.
The fare for the new nonstop flights between Chicago Midway and Los
Angeles International is $89 each way with a roundtrip purchase and
overnight
stay required (any night). Travel at this fare must be completed by
Aug. 3, 2002. The fare is for the nonstop flights only. Tickets must
be
purchased at least seven days before departure and within one day of
making
reservations. Fares do not include segment fees of $6 roundtrip,
airport-
assessed passenger facility charges of $9 roundtrip, and a
government-imposed
September 11 Security Fee of $5 roundtrip. Tickets are nonrefundable
but
(except for tickets purchased through our Group Tickets program) may be
applied toward the purchase of future travel on Southwest Airlines.
Seats are
limited and may not be available on some flights that operate during
peak or
holiday travel times. Fares are subject to change until ticketed, and
any
change in itinerary could result in an increase in the fare.
Southwest currently serves 59 airports in 58 cities in 30 states.
Based
in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 2,700 flights a day.
http://www.southwest.com
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