Southwest Airlines celebrates its 20th year of service and growth at San Diego Lindbergh Field today.

"Southwest has been incredibly successful in San Diego over the last 20 years," said Dave Ridley, Southwest's vice president of ground operations. "Our success reflects the increasing demand among our San Diego Customers for Southwest's low fares and frequent flights."

Southwest introduced service to San Diego Lindbergh Field in 1982 with 12 daily nonstop departures to Phoenix. Since then the airline's service has skyrocketed to 77 daily nonstop departures to 13 cities which is 541 percent growth in 20 years. Other San Diego statistics include:

    -- Over the last 20 years, Southwest has grown to capture more than
       34 percent of the San Diego market share.
    -- In 2001, Southwest transported more than 1.2 million passengers in San
       Diego.
    -- In first quarter 1990, Southwest carried 382,900 passengers in San
       Diego.  As of second quarter 2001, Southwest carried more than
       1.2 million Customers, an increase of 231 percent.
    -- Since first quarter 1990, Southwest increased traffic to several key
       cities.  For example, Southwest increased traffic over the last
       12 years to Las Vegas by 135 percent, to Oakland by 246 percent, and to
       Phoenix by 34 percent.
    -- Southwest honored the state of California by dedicating an airplane,
       California One, painted in the design of the California state flag, in
       1995.

Southwest is also heavily invested in the San Diego community creating a direct economic impact of more than $42 million (salaries and benefits paid to Employees, fuel, landing fees, and other expenditures) in 2001. Southwest also has an investment commitment of approximately $228 million in company resources dedicated to San Diego.

"The Southwest Airlines San Diego Employees are to thank for our tremendous success in San Diego," Ridley said. "Our more than 300 Employees prove that Southwest is strongly represented in San Diego."

Southwest not only wants to thank the San Diego Employees, but is also extending a thank you to San Diego Rapid Rewards members. Rapid Rewards members who fly out of Lindbergh Field on January 31, 2002, will receive a bonus credit in honor of the station's 20th anniversary. What this means is if a Rapid Rewards member booked a reservation through southwest.com they will receive three credits total, one additional credit combined with the double credit given for booking online. If the Rapid Rewards member booked a reservation through 1-800-IFLYSWA, then the member will receive two credits, if traveling on Jan. 31, 2002, from Sky Harbor.

Southwest Airlines is celebrating Southwest's dedication to San Diego with Employees and Customers alike. The airline thanks the people and travelers of San Diego for 20 wonderful years. As California's number one intra-state carrier, Southwest serves more Customers within the state of California than any other airline. In addition to San Diego, the airline also serves seven other California cities: Sacramento, Oakland, San Jose, Burbank, Los Angeles, Ontario, and Orange County.