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Southwest Airlines Announces Intent to Begin Service to Boston Logan International Airport in Fall of 2009

Posted on: Thursday, 19 February 2009, 05:30 CST

Carrier Plans Conservative Start-Up to Complement Existing Network

DALLAS, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines today announced its intent to begin service from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) in the Fall of 2009. The carrier has not released specific service details, saying only that it will begin with a conservative number of flights that will complement its 64 airport network. Southwest Airlines Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO Gary Kelly shared the news with Southwest Employees at a Company event in Chicago last night. Visit the Southwest Airlines' Blog (http://www.blogsouthwest.com) to see and hear footage of that announcement.

Southwest Airlines has been serving the New England area since 1996 with service at Providence's TF Green International Airport and service at Manchester Boston Regional Airport since 1998. The Boston Logan service will complement the carrier's existing service at other New England airports, allowing Customers to take advantage of Southwest flights from more locations.

"Today, more than ever, it's imperative that we make wise decisions on how and where we utilize our aircraft - and we know that Boston Logan Airport is a smart choice for Southwest," said Gary Kelly, Southwest's Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO. "I am confident that Logan will be a great addition to our already strong presence in the New England area. We stand ready to offer this bustling region even more low-fare service and unbeatable Southwest Airlines Customer Service."

"We are thrilled to welcome Southwest Airlines to Boston Logan," said Massport's Director of Aviation Edward C. Freni. "At Logan, we are always thinking of our customers and now they will soon be enjoying Southwest's Signature 'Freedom to Fly Approach' to quality customer service."

"We plan to begin Logan service with a conservative number of flights and a two gate operation," Kelly said.

The Company will release additional details regarding its future Boston Logan International service in the coming months. The Logan service will be made possible by the airline optimizing its current flight schedule and repositioning aircraft. Southwest has not changed its previously announced plan to reduce the Company's available seat miles by approximately four percent in 2009 compared to 2008.

After 37 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation's leading low-fare carrier, continues to differentiate itself from other airlines--offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. At Southwest Airlines, fees don't fly. Customers can check their first two bags for free (size and weight limits apply), there are no change fees, no fees for a window or aisle seat, and, as always, snacks, sodas, and smiles are all complimentary!

Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience. Southwest offers a very comfortable ride with all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom with a young all Boeing 737 fleet. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned, currently serves 64 cities (with service to Minneapolis/St. Paul starting March 8, 2009) in 32 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide. Approximately 100 Southwest Employees conduct a four gate operation at Manchester Boston Regional Airport with 27 daily nonstop departures to eight cities. Southwest's operation at Providence's TF Green International Airport includes four gates, more than 100 Employees, and 31 daily nonstop departures to nine destinations.

www.southwest.com

This news release contains forward-looking statements related to Southwest's intention to begin service from Boston Logan International Airport and its strategies for implementation of such service. These forward-looking statements are based on Southwest's current intent, beliefs, and expectations and are not guarantees of future results. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by them. Factors include, among others, uncertainties surrounding domestic economic conditions and any related impact on Southwest's schedule planning and overall strategic decisions, as well as other factors set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in Southwest's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

SOURCE Southwest Airlines

Source: PR Newswire

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