DALLAS, July 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly announced Southwest's fares and flights today during a media conference at Washington Dulles International Airport. The airline starts service to its 63rd city on Oct. 5, 2006. Southwest will occupy two gates in the B Concourse and will initially have about 40 local Employees.

Southwest Airlines will begin its Dulles service with a total of 12 daily nonstop departures to the following cities: Chicago Midway (seven daily), Las Vegas (one daily), Orlando (two daily), and Tampa Bay (two daily). The airline will offer direct or connecting service to 35 other destinations such as Denver, Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood, and Los Angeles.

"Dulles will be a fantastic complement to our Baltimore/Washington operation," Kelly said. "Our Customers in Washington, D.C., and the surrounding areas now have another excellent choice of airports when they want Southwest Airlines' convenient, low-fare service."

Southwest Airlines offers Dulles Customers its biggest discounts with advance purchase tickets. Customers can take advantage of 14-day advance fares as low as $79 one-way to Chicago Midway, Orlando, or Tampa Bay. Additionally, Customers can head to Las Vegas for as little as $99 one-way with Southwest Airlines' 14-day advance purchase fares. To take advantage of these low fares, see http://www.southwest.com/jp/luvhome.shtml?src=PR_iad_071306 . (See fare rules.)

"Demand for low fare service continues to be strong, and Southwest is the low-fare leader in the airline industry," Kelly said. "We'll start service with these 12 flights and enhance our Dulles operation as Customers respond to our Positively Outrageous Customer Service."

The airline with the most affordable airfares also makes travel a whole lot easier. Southwest Airlines' award winning web site, southwest.com, not only offers some of the industry's lowest airfares online, but also helps with making other travel accommodations, such as hotel and rental cars. Customers with an electronic "Ticketless" reservation may checkin online and print a boarding pass 24 hours in advance of travel from southwest.com. Boarding passes are issued on a first-come, first-served basis, and Southwest boards its flights in three boarding groups.

To take advantage of Southwest Airlines' super low fares, Customers who book their travel via the Internet can subscribe to Southwest Airlines Click 'n Save e-mail updates as well as Southwest Airlines' newest technological innovation -- DING! DING! delivers Southwest Airlines' hottest deals directly to Customers' desktops allowing Customers to get a jump on the latest southwest.com sales! Southwest continues to enhance the DING! product and now Customers can sign up to receive spectacular fare specials from up to ten of their favorite airports -- as of today, Customers can add Dulles to their favorites list.

Fare rules: Tickets for $99 and $79 one-way fares must be purchased at least 14 days before departure. Fares are valid for travel beginning Oct. 5, 2006, through the end of the published schedule (currently Dec. 10, 2006). Fares are available one-way. When combining fares, all ticketing restrictions apply. Tickets must be purchased within one day of making reservations and at least 14 days before departure. Seats are limited. Advertised fares may vary by flight and day of week and will not be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times. Fares do not include a $3.30 federal segment tax per takeoff and landing; 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 (except for tickets purchased through our Group Tickets program) may be applied toward the purchase of future travel on Southwest Airlines. Fares are valid on Southwest-operated published, scheduled service only. Any change in itinerary could result in an increase in fare, depending upon whether discount seats are still available on the new flights. Fares are not necessarily common rated in the Washington, D.C., and the Bay areas.

Southwest Airlines is the number one airline in terms of domestic boardings. With the addition of its Dulles service, Southwest Airlines will operate more than 3,100 daily flights to 63 cities in 32 states. Southwest Airlines employs almost 32,000 people nationwide.

http://www.southwest.com

SOURCE Southwest Airlines
07/13/2006

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