DALLAS, Nov. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest
Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today inaugurated service between
South Florida and Cuba with the scheduled 11:00 a.m. EST departure of Southwest Flight 3914
to Varadero (VRA) from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
International Airport (FLL). 143 Passengers and a Crew of five
Southwest Employees donned Cuban-style hats as the aircraft
departed to an orchestra playing Caribbean music and a drumroll by renowned
bandleader Tito Puente, Jr.
"Our Employees have worked hard to open this route and a new
chapter for people who want to connect with Cuba in ways that matter most to them," said
Steve Goldberg, Southwest Airlines' Vice President of Ground
Operations who is also Southwest's executive ambassador to
Florida. Goldberg also announced Southwest intends to begin
once daily service from Fort
Lauderdale to Santa Clara, Cuba (SNU) on Thursday,
Dec. 15, 2016, subject to requisite approvals of the Cuban
government. "By the end of this year, we'll offer six daily
roundtrips between two Florida
gateways and three Cuban cities as the work continues to open a
new, five-gate international concourse here in Fort Lauderdale next summer."
In celebration of the announcement of new service to Santa
Clara, Southwest is offering a special fare of $59 one-way* on nonstop flights from
Ft. Lauderdale to Santa
Clara (14-day advance purchase required, today through
Nov. 20, 2016, 11:59 p.m. in the time zone of the originating
city for travel Dec. 15, 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.
On Oct.13, Southwest announced its flight schedule of new
nonstop service between Florida
and both Varadero and Havana. Cuba is the ninth country
served by Southwest, with Havana
marking a historic 100th destination. Service
between Havana (HAV) and
both Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
and Tampa International Airport
(TPA) begins Dec. 12, 2016,
subject to requisite approvals of the Cuban
government. Southwest street teams surprised residents with
$100 Southwest Gift Cards across both
greater Fort Lauderdale and
Tampa Bay to spread awareness of
the new routes. The carrier's social media community followed the
day's events through hashtag #Southwest100.
The carrier continues to plan for available seat mile (ASM)
growth in the 5-6 percent range in 2016.
See swamedia.com for b-roll video of inaugural festivity,
first flights, and executive interviews, as well the latest
available data regarding Southwest's economic impact in
Florida.
*FARE TERMS & CONDITIONS
14-day advance purchase required. Fares available for
purchase today through Nov. 20,
2016,11:59 p.m. in the time zone of the originating city for travel
Dec. 15, 2016, through April 24, 2017. 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 travelers who are not Rapid Rewards® A-List or A-List
Preferred Members to upgrade to the Anytime fare. Fares are subject
to change until ticketed. Offer applies only to published,
scheduled service. Every passenger traveling to Cuba must certify that they are eligible to
travel to Cuba under one of 12
general license categories, a specific license, or as 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 53,000 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 99 destinations in the United States and eight additional
countries with additional Cuba
service to Havana, Cuba, beginning
Dec. 12, 2016, and Santa Clara
beginning Dec. 15, 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 nearly 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 for 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.