Southwest Airlines : To Begin Cuba Service Nonstop From Ft. Lauderdale And Tampa Bay With Fares As Low As $59 One-Way*

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 100(th) 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 100(th) 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 100(th) 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(R) 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(R) fares. Fares may be combined with other Southwest Airlines(R) 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(R), 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(R) 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(TM) 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.