DALLAS, March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest
Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today announced it has donated 7,500
roundtrip tickets to help remove the financial burden for those who
need to travel for life-changing or specialized medical care. More
than 75 nonprofit hospitals and medical transportation
organizations across the United
States received the tickets through Southwest's® Medical
Transportation Grant Program, allowing them to bring patients and
caregivers closer to much-needed medical care.
"As the airline with Heart, we have a passion for making a
meaningful difference in the communities we serve," said
Laura Nieto, Director of Community
Outreach. "Through our Medical Transportation Grant Program, our
hope is to ease the financial burden of air travel expenses and
provide a critical lifeline for patients and caregivers, allowing
them to stay focused on medical treatment and recovery."
This year, Southwest is supporting hospitals in 26 states,
providing access for patients and their caregivers.
"Southwest's generous gesture of aloha provides much-needed help
to our patients and their families who travel for essential medical
care," said Jill Hoggard Green, PhD,
RN, President and CEO of The Queen's Health Systems in Honolulu, Hawaii; one of two new hospital
groups in Hawaii to join
Southwest's Medical Transportation Grant Program in
2021. "Southwest's donation provides assistance and peace of
mind where it is most needed by making health care more easily
accessible."
To view the full list of participating hospitals and charitable
organizations for 2021, visit Southwest.com/medicalgrant. Since
this signature program's inception in 2007, Southwest has donated
nearly $39 million in transportation
value, helping to remove the financial costs associated with travel
for more than 96,000 patients and caregivers. Visit Southwest's
50th Anniversary website to see the Medical
Transportation Grant Program at work.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 50th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines
Co. continues to differentiate itself from other air
carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more
than 56,000 Employees to a Customer base that topped 130
million Passengers in 2019. Southwest has a robust network of
point-to-point service with a strong presence across top leisure
and business markets. In peak travel seasons during 2019, Southwest
operated more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 101
destinations in the United States
and 10 additional countries. In 2020, the carrier added service to
Hilo, Hawaii; Cozumel, Mexico; Miami; Palm Springs,
Calif.; Steamboat Springs; and Montrose (Telluride), Colo. Thus far in 2021,
Southwest began service to both Chicago (O'Hare) and Sarasota/Bradenton on Feb.
14; and will begin service to both Savannah/Hilton Head and Colorado Springs on March 11; both Houston
(Bush) and Santa Barbara,
Calif. on April 12;
Fresno, Calif. on April 25; Destin/Ft. Walton Beach on May
6; Bozeman, Mont. on
May 27; and Jackson, Miss. on
June 6.
The carrier issued
its Southwest® Promise in
May 2020 to highlight new and
round-the-clock efforts to support its Customers and Employees
well-being and comfort. Among the changes are enhanced cleaning
efforts at airports and onboard aircraft, along with a federal
mandate requiring every person to wear a mask at all times
throughout each flight. Additional details about the Southwest
Promise are available
at Southwest.com/Promise.
Southwest coined Transfarency® to
describe its purposed philosophy of treating Customers
honestly and fairly, and low fares actually staying 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 carriers offer free
checked bags on select routes or in qualified circumstances).
Southwest does not charge change fees, though fare differences
might apply.
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. Learn more about how the carrier gives
back to communities across the world by
visiting 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 Co.