DALLAS, July 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest
Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today welcomed news from the U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT) that the carrier has been
preliminarily awarded authority to serve Havana with twice daily nonstop service from
Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, and once daily
nonstop service from Tampa Bay International Airport. Pending
finalized authority from DOT and subject to requisite approvals
from the Cuban government, Southwest® confirms it will begin its
Cuba service later this year to
Havana (HAV), along with
previously awarded service to Varadero (VRA) and Santa Clara
(SNU). The carrier will have a total of five daily departures
from Ft. Lauderdale (Miami Area) to Cuba—two to Havana, two to Varadero, and one to Santa
Clara—plus one daily departure from Tampa to Havana.
"Our Countdown to Cuba
continues with new enthusiasm, and we're finalizing plans to bring
our world famous value and Customer Service to these emerging U.S.
travel markets," said Gary Kelly, Southwest Airlines Chairman,
President, & CEO. "As the largest carrier of domestic
passengers in the United States*,
these nonstop flights from two of our Florida focus cities will provide
high-quality, low-fare service to our Customers while also offering
convenient connections to Cuba for dozens of U.S. cities
across the Southwest network."
Southwest filed an application with the DOT requesting
governmental approval to serve Cuba with daily nonstop flights from
the carrier's three busiest airports in Florida. Following
the initial application on March 2,
2016, Southwest received 120+ letters of support from local,
regional, and national organizations, including Orlando, Inc., South Florida Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce, Tampa Bay Partnership, United States Black Chamber of
Commerce, United States Business Leaders Network, and United States
Hispanic Leadership Institute.
At the filing deadline, more than 25,000 individual supporters
had endorsed Southwest's DOT application by visiting
Southwest.com/Cuba to petition U.S. Secretary of
Transportation Anthony Foxx.
These individuals consist of a diverse voice of tens of thousands
of citizens across the country supporting Southwest's low-fare
competition and Customer-friendly travel options to Cuba.
Southwest will soon publish its low fares and flight schedules
for Cuba service and intends to
begin operations to Cuba later
this year. Southwest continues to plan for 2016
year-over-year available seat mile (ASM) growth in the 5-6 percent
range.
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 50,000 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 three airports in Cuba to begin later this year, subject to
government 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 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.