DALLAS, March 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The People of
Southwest Airlines® (NYSE: LUV) today inaugurated two
international routes that brought new long-haul service for
Customers using two of the carrier's growing gateways,
Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and
William P. Hobby Airport in Houston. Each of the new routes
is longer than 2,000 miles each-way and marks historic milestones
for the carrier both by connecting Central America to the Southwest network of
destinations and by offering its longest-ever nonstop scheduled
service from any of Southwest's Texas Triangle of original
cities of Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston.
Beginning today, Southwest Airlines operates nonstop service
between:
- San Jose, Costa Rica,
and Baltimore/Washington on a once daily basis, and
- Aruba and
Houston (Hobby) seasonally,
once every Saturday through Aug. 8,
2015
At Houston's Hobby Airport, Southwest Employees celebrated the
first Aruba-bound morning
departure. Later, Customers on the first inbound
international flight deplaned directly into a celebration in the
main domestic concourse, following their U.S. Customs and Border
Protection Preclearance processed prior to departing the
Caribbean island. This is the
first-ever international flying offered from Houston Hobby. This October, Southwest is
scheduled to complete the construction of a $156 million international terminal project which
will give Houstonians and Southwest Customers from across the
network access to more international destinations.
"CBP's Preclearance program allows us to deliver early on the
promise we made Houstonians to couple our low fares and high-value
Customer Service with Heart to places outside the U.S.,"
said Teresa Laraba, Southwest's Senior Vice President of
Customers. "This is just the beginning of a very big 2015 for
our Houston Employees and Customers with an additional six
destinations across three countries coming online at Hobby later
this year."
The countdown continues toward the carrier's new international
offerings for local and connecting Customers who use Hobby
Airport. Houston Airports System (HAS) is concurrently
improving parking facilities and airport roadways to support
additional flights. Southwest's schedule and fares for
initial international service from Houston
(Hobby) will be published this spring.
Southwest Airlines flight 602 from Baltimore/Washington to
San Jose, Costa Rica, brought 143
Customers and the Company's legendary personality and value to
Central America for the first time
in the 44-year history of the largest domestic carrier* in the
United States. Dozens of people came to Juan Santamaria
International Airport outside San
Jose at the invitation of the Costa Rica Tourism Board to
welcome the historic arrival in the lush country known for its
natural beauty and adventure tourism.
"Costa Ricans share something with our People—a passion to serve
and create the kind of hospitality that brings travelers back for
more," said Captain Chuck Magill, Southwest's Vice President of
Operational Coordination. "Today, just as much as we
celebrate the journey, we celebrate the destinations and
relationships we now offer on either side of this new link.
Our first scheduled flight to Central
America realizes years of dedicated work by our Employees to
connect people in Costa Rica with
what's important in their lives."
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 44th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV)
continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with
exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 46,000 Employees
to more than 100 million Customers annually. Southwest
operates more than 3,400 flights a day, serving 94 destinations
across the United States and six
additional countries. Southwest service to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, begins in
June 2015; and subject to government
approvals, service to Belize City,
Belize begins in October 2015.
*Based on the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent
data, Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms
of originating domestic passengers boarded. The Company operates
the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world, the majority of
which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi providing gate-to-gate
connectivity while over the United States. That connectivity
enables Customers to use their personal devices to access streaming
music provided by Beats Music or to view video on-demand movies and
television shows, as well as nearly 20 channels of free, live TV
compliments of our valued Partners. Southwest is the only
major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free® (first and second
checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply), and there
are never reservation change fees, although fare differences might
apply. In 2014, the airline proudly unveiled a bold new look:
Heart. The new aircraft livery, airport experience,
and logo, showcase the dedication of Southwest Employees to connect
Customers with what's important in their lives.
From its first flights on June 18,
1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented
affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of
Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and
increase in passenger traffic whenever the carrier enters new
markets. With 42 consecutive years of profitability,
Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known
for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's
performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the
communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and
the planet. The 2013 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found
at Southwest.com/citizenship.
Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online
at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.
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SOURCE Southwest Airlines