DALLAS, March 8, 2021 / PRNewswire / – Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today announced its intention to bring flexibility and value to Southwest Airlines® to three new airports in 2021. President and CEO of Southwest Airlines Gary Kelly today is sharing the following message with Southwest Employees:
I am pleased to share with all of you that today we are announcing our intention to serve three more destinations and continue our focus on putting our aircraft to work to seek more customers and the much needed revenue.
And the destinations are (drum roll!) Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Eugene, Oregon; and Bellingham, Washington—Three very different and attractive locations to serve our existing customers and places where we feel that Southwest can make a real difference for local travelers.
We are wanting to start Myrtle Beach in time for summer vacation and we hope that our arrival will attract the travelers who are currently driving to this very popular coastal area in the southeast. ‘Golf bags fly free’ * must be very popular for Myrtle Beach service!
Eugene it’s about two hours south of Portland, and is ready for the Southwest Effect, our hospitality and our flexible policies, with no hidden fees and low rates.
Southwest service in Bellingham positions us south of the subway Vancouver, British Columbia. After the reopening of the Canadian border, we expect a return from travelers concerned about the values already heading to this alternative airport to escape the high fares and taxes – and this is very, very typical for destinations in the southwest. Southwest offers great value to them.
Service for both Eugene and Bellingham it is something that we anticipate in the second half of the year.
This totals 17 new airports that we have opened or announced since the beginning of the pandemic. And for those who started the service, they are doing very well. In fact, we have just shared with the airports that serve Steamboat Springs and Telluride that we are extending our service beyond the winter season to continue serving both of them until the summer of 2021.
Colorado Springs, Savannah and our Long beach service for Hawaii all start-up next Thursday.
It’s a lot of work, a lot of new destinations and a lot of options for our customers, so I want to thank all the teams that contributed to continue to develop the Heart of Southwest and, at the same time, position ourselves better to attract more customers according to demand travel increases.
* Golf bags fly free as one of two checked baggage items offered to all Southwest customers (weight and size limitations apply)
Cautionary statement about forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements in accordance with 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 regarding the Company’s network plans and expectations, including its intention to serve Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Eugene, Oregon; and Bellingham, Washington; and other new destinations. These forward-looking statements, based on the Company’s current intentions and expectations, are not guarantees of future actions. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that are difficult to predict and that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or indicated by them. Among others, the factors are (i) the Company’s ability to obtain the necessary approvals and the impact of government regulations and other government actions related to the Company’s operations; (ii) the extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the overall demand for air travel and the Company’s related business plans and decisions; (iii) the impact of economic conditions, government actions, extreme or severe weather and natural disasters, fear of terrorism or war, actions of competitors, fuel prices, consumer perception and other factors outside the Company’s control, on consumer behavior and in the Company, business decisions, plans and strategies; (iv) the Company’s dependence on third parties; (v) the impact of labor issues on the Company’s plans and expectations; and (vi) other factors, as described in the Company’s files 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 December 31, 2020.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 50º year of service, Dallas-BasedSouthwest Airlines Co. continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service provided by more than 56,000 employees to a customer base that exceeded 130 million passengers in 2019. Southwest has a robust point-to-point service network with a strong presence in the main sectors leisure business markets. In the high season of 2019, Southwest operated more than 4,000 business days departures from a network of 101 destinations across the United States and 10 additional countries. In 2020, the operator added service to Hilo, Hawaii; Cozumel, Mexico; Miami; Palm Springs, California; Steamboat Springs; and Montrose (Telluride), Colorado. So far, in 2021, Southwest has started service for both Chicago (O’Hare) and Sarasota/Bradenton on February 14th; and the service to Savannah will begin /Hilton Head and Colorado Springs in March 11; Both Houston (Bush) and Santa Barbara, California on April 12th; Fresno, California on April 25; Destin / Ft. Walton Beach in May 6; Bozeman, Mont. on may, 27; and Jackson, Miss. on June 6. The Company announced its intention to start a new service in Myrtle Beach, SC, Eugene, Ore., and Bellingham, Wash., all in 2021.
The carrier has issued its South-west®Promiseat the May 2020 highlight new and uninterrupted efforts to support the well-being and comfort of its Customers and Employees. Among the changes are improved cleaning efforts at airports and aircraft on board, along with a federal mandate requiring each person to wear a mask at all times during each flight. Additional details about the Southwest Promise are available atSouthwest.com/Promise.
Southwest brother-in-lawTranstariff ncy®to describe his philosophy of treating customers honestly and fairly, and low rates remain really low. Southwest is the only major US airline to offer free shipping bags®for everyone (first and second checked baggage, size and weight limits apply, some carriers offer free checked baggage on selected routes or in qualified circumstances). Southwest does not charge a change fee, although fare differences may apply.
Southwest is one of the most honorable 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 a general commitment to efficiency and the planet . Find out more about how the operator pays back to communities around the world by visitingSouthwest.com/citizenship.
Book low Southwest Airlines fares online atSouthwest.comor by calling 800-I-FLY-SWA.
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SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.
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