DALLAS, Oct. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest
Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today announced its flight schedule of
new nonstop service between Florida and Cuba, bringing Southwest's legendary low fares
to a ninth country and a historic 100th destination.
Service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
(FLL) and Varadero, Cuba
(VRA) is scheduled to begin Sunday, Nov.
13, 2016, and Havana
(HAV) service is scheduled to commence Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, from both FLL and
Tampa International Airport
(TPA), subject to requisite approvals of the Cuban
government. Service details for Santa Clara, Cuba (SNU) are intended to be released in
the coming weeks.
"Southwest Customers can book their tickets now to travel to
Cuba with our low fares and no
hidden fees, bags fly free^, and the best Employees in the
industry," said Gary Kelly, Southwest Airlines' Chairman, President
& CEO. "Cuba will be the
ninth country on our route map and Havana will mark Southwest's 100th
city, a significant and proud milestone."
^first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight
limitations apply
In celebration of the new service, Southwest is offering a
special fare of $59 one-way*
on nonstop flights to and from Cuba (14-day advance purchase required, today
through Nov. 20, 2016, 11:59 p.m. in the time zone of the originating
city) for travel Nov. 13, 2016,
through April 24, 2017). Please see
below for valid travel days and complete terms &
conditions. Check Southwest.com/Cuba for requirements
regarding travel to Cuba and
date-specific flight schedules for daily nonstop and other
published connecting service.
"We're continuing to invest in the Sunshine State with relevant
service in all eight of our Florida airports to connect Southwest
Customers to important things in their lives," said Steve Goldberg,
Southwest Airlines' Vice President of Ground Operations, in
announcing Cuba service details
today at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
"Broward County's
state-of-the-art, five-gate international concourse scheduled to
open here next summer, and to celebrate our new service, we sent
out Southwest Employees to surprise Floridians with a gift to
celebrate our 100th city." Across both greater
Fort Lauderdale and Tampa Bay, Southwest street teams surprised
residents with $100 Southwest Gift
Cards to spread awareness of the new routes. The carrier's social
media community followed the day's events through hashtag
#Southwest100.
See swamedia.com for b-roll video of street teams,
executive interviews, as well the latest available data regarding
Southwest's economic impact in Florida.
The carrier continues to plan for available seat mile (ASM)
growth in the 5-6 percent range in 2016.
*FARE TERMS & CONDITIONS
14-day advance purchase required. Fares available for
purchase today through Nov. 20,
2016,11:59 p.m. in the respective time zone of the originating city
for travel Nov. 13, 2016, through
April 24, 2017. Service to Varadero
begins Nov. 13, 2016. Service to
Havana begins Dec. 12, 2016. Fares are valid only on nonstop
service. Displayed prices include all U.S. and international
government taxes and fees. If traveling to Cuba, fares include Cuban Government mandatory
health insurance. Rapid Rewards® Points bookings do not include
taxes, fees, and other government/airport charges of at least
$5.60 per one way flight. Seats and
days 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. Travel is available for
one-way Wanna Get Away® fares. Fares may be combined with other
Southwest Airlines® combinable fares. If combining fares, the most
restrictive fare rules apply. Sale fares may be available on other
days of week, but that's not guaranteed. Fares are nonrefundable
but may be applied toward future travel on Southwest®, as long as
reservations are canceled at least ten minutes prior to scheduled
departure. Failure to cancel prior to departure will result in
forfeiture of remaining funds on the reservation. Any change in
itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Standby travel
requires upgrade to the Anytime fare. Fares are subject to change
until ticketed. Offer applies only to published, scheduled service.
In order to legally travel to Cuba, every passenger must certify eligibility
for Cuba travel under any of 12
general license categories, a specific license, or must be a Cuban
National.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Specific forward-looking statements include, without limitation,
statements related to the Company's anticipated service offerings
and fares and network and capacity plans, opportunities, and
expectations. These statements involve risks, uncertainties,
assumptions, and other factors that are difficult to predict and
that could cause actual results to vary materially from those
expressed in or indicated by them. Factors include, among others,
(i) the impact of economic conditions, consumer behavior, fuel
prices, actions of competitors (including without limitation
pricing, scheduling, and capacity decisions and consolidation and
alliance activities), and other factors beyond the Company's
control, on the Company's business decisions, plans, and
strategies; (ii) the impact of governmental regulations and other
governmental actions related to the Company's operations; and (iii)
other factors, as described in the Company's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the detailed factors
discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2015.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 46th 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 52,000 Employees
to more than 100 million Customers annually. Southwest
operates more than 3,900 departures a day during peak travel season
across a network of 98 destinations in the United States and seven additional
countries with service to Varadero, Cuba beginning Nov. 13,
2016, and to Havana, Cuba,
beginning Dec. 12, 2016, both routes
subject to governmental approvals.
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. That connectivity enables Customers to use
their personal devices to view video on-demand movies and
television shows, as well as more than 20 channels of free, live TV
compliments of our valued Partners. Southwest created
Transfarency℠, a philosophy which treats Customers
honestly and fairly, and in which low fares actually stay low.
Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly
free® to everyone (first and second checked pieces of
luggage, size and weight limits apply, some airlines may allow free
checked bags on select routes or in qualified circumstances), and
there are no change fees, though fare differences might apply. The
airline proudly unveiled a bold new look: Heart.
A new logo, aircraft livery, interior design featuring a new seat
and Flight Attendant galley, Employee-designed uniforms, and an
updated airport experience all showcase the dedication of Southwest
Employees who 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 43 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 2015 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found
at SouthwestOneReport.com.
Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online
at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.
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SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.