Southwest Airlines Offers Customers $99 One-Way Fares and Increased Travel Options From Dallas Love Field. North Texas Travelers Benefit From Increased Competition for Air Travel.
DALLAS – Since passage of the Wright Amendment in 1979, travelers into and out of the Dallas/Fort Worth area have paid higher airfares and had fewer travel choices, due to a law that restricted nonstop commercial air travel from Love Field to a small number of nearby states. After a tremendous effort that started in November 2004, a bill that repeals the Wright Amendment passed Congress by an overwhelming majority on Sept. 29, 2006, and has now been signed into law by President Bush.
„This is one of the most significant moments in Southwest Airlines history, and in the history of North Texas air travel,“ said Gary Kelly, Southwest’s Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. „Travelers have been burdened for nearly 30 years with the higher airfares the Wright Amendment nurtured by preventing competition. Over the past two years, the public has spoken out for change, and a plan was developed that brought together parties from both ends of the spectrum. The United States Congress passed the bill in an overwhelming fashion, and we applaud President Bush for expeditiously signing this bill so that we can begin to bring the Dallas/Fort Worth area into the 21st Century of low fare air travel.“
Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) will offer one-stop (same plane) and connecting service outside of the Wright Amendment’s former restrictions. And in eight years, the Wright Amendment will be completely eliminated.
„This momentous day would not have arrived had it not been for the heroic and steadfast efforts of all our wonderful Employees and Customers,“ Kelly said.
By Thursday, Oct. 19, Southwest Airlines Customers can take full advantage of 25 new destinations from Dallas Love Field Airport: Baltimore/Washington, Chicago Midway, Cleveland, Columbus, Denver, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Nashville, Oakland, Omaha, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Seattle/Tacoma, Tampa Bay, and Tucson. Combined with the 18 existing markets the airline serves from Dallas Love Field, Southwest Customers can now travel between Dallas and a total of 43 destinations.
New service would not be complete without Southwest Airlines‘ low fares! Southwest is offering a $99 one-way introductory fare between Dallas Love Field and the airline’s 25 new destinations. These fares are available with a 14-day advance purchase for travel beginning Oct. 31, 2006, at http://www.southwest.com/?src=PR_WASale_101706 or by calling 1-800-I-FLY-SWA. *See fare rules below.
Southwest Customers also can take advantage of even lower fares between Dallas Love Field and the 25 new destinations by registering for DING!, Southwest Airlines‘ downloadable desktop application. Visit http://www.southwest.com/ding for more details.
Southwest Airlines is showing appreciation to its Rapid Rewards Members with a „two-step salute!“ Rapid Rewards Members traveling into and out of Dallas Love Field between Oct. 19 and Dec. 31, 2006, will earn double credit — giving Customers a reason to get into and out of Dallas on the Double! **See promotional rules below.
In addition to the 25 new Southwest destinations, the airline also will offer codeshare service between Dallas Love Field and Honolulu, Maui, and New York LaGuardia.
Visit Southwest Airlines‘ corporate blog Nuts About Southwest at blogsouthwest.com for additional Employee and Customer commentary regarding this historic event.
After 35 years of service, Southwest Airlines continues to offer the best value in airline travel. Southwest offers a very comfortable ride with all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom. Southwest does not charge Customers an extra fee for changing their reservation and continues to offer free amenities. Customers enjoy complimentary pillows, blankets, snacks, juice, soda, and water on all flights. Since 1987, the airline has maintained the fewest overall Customer complaints as published in the Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report. Southwest Airlines, the nation’s largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned, currently serves 63 cities in 32 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,100 flights a day and has more than 32,000 Employees systemwide.
*Fare Rules
All introductory fares will be fully available for purchase beginning Oct. 19, 2006, and are valid for travel from Oct. 31, 2006, through the end of the published schedule (currently March 9, 2007). All tickets must be purchased 14 days before departure. Fares are available one-way and are combinable with all other fares (except Senior Fares). When combining fares, all ticketing restrictions apply. Seats are limited. Fares may vary by destination and day of travel and will not be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods. Fares do not include a federal segment tax of $3.30 per takeoff and landing. Fares do not include airport-assessed passenger facility charges (PFC) of up to $9 one-way and U.S. government- imposed September 11th Security Fees of up to $5 one-way. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Tickets are nonrefundable but may be applied toward the purchase of future travel on Southwest Airlines if unused. Fares are valid only on Southwest-published, scheduled service (fares are not valid on ATA codeshare flights to Hawaii) and are not available through the Group Desk. Any change in itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Standby travel requires an upgrade to the full unrestricted fare. Fares are not necessarily common rated in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area.
**Rapid Rewards Rules
Rapid Rewards Members will earn two credits per one-way flight into and out of Dallas Love Field when booked through southwest.com or swabiz.com and flown during the promotional period. Rapid Rewards account number must be provided in the reservation to receive double credit. Some changes made to the itinerary after purchase may eliminate qualification for Rapid Rewards double credit and promotional offers. Youth, child, military, and government fares are not available for purchase on southwest.com. Reservations made through swavacations.com are not eligible for this promotion. All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply.
SOURCE Southwest Airlines
10/17/2006
