Southwest Airlines Announces New Service To Liberia, Costa Rica

Southwest Airlines® (NYSE: LUV) today extended its bookable flight schedule through Jan. 4, 2016, offering new international service between eight cities and Houston (Hobby) by the end of this year, including the carrier's 97th destination, Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport at Liberia in the Guanacaste beach and resort region of northwest Costa Rica, subject to foreign government approval.

Southwest Employees, Customers, and Houstonians celebrated the new flights with Houston Mayor Annise Parker and other city leaders at a beach bash Wednesday afternoon in downtown Houston at City Hall Plaza.

"Houstonians have endured some of the highest international airfares in the country," said Gary Kelly, Southwest's Chairman, President, & CEO, to a crowd assembled at a pop-up beach party featuring international food and music.  "Southwest is putting our promise, our People, and our planes on these routes because you deserve lower fares and better service."

Customers may book the new flights at Southwest.com.

Purchase fares now through May 24, 11:59 p.m. in the respective time zone of the originating city.  Travel Oct. 15, 2015, through Dec. 16, 2015. Blackout dates apply: fares to international destinations are not available Nov. 20-22, 2015; fares from international destinations are not available Nov. 27-30, 2015. Restrictions and exclusions apply. Seats and valid travel days are limited. See additional and complete fare rules below.

During the upcoming summer travel season, Southwest will offer up to 159 departures a day from Houston's William P. Hobby Airport serving 45 destinations nonstop while contractors, designers, and workers enter the homestretch of constructing a $156 million, five-gate international terminal complex, along with associated City of Houston projects for new parking and roadway improvements.

Other International Flights

Also pending the approval of the Mexican government, new once-daily service between Denver and Puerto Vallarta begins Nov. 1, 2015, for as low as $149 one-way at Southwest.com. Purchase fares now through May 24, 11:59 p.m. in the respective time zone of the originating city.  Travel Oct. 15, 2015, through Dec. 16, 2015. Blackout dates apply: fare to Puerto Vallarta is not available Nov. 20-22, 2015; fare from Puerto Vallarta is not available Nov. 27-30, 2015. Restrictions and exclusions apply. Seats and valid travel days are limited. See additional and complete fare rules below.

Daily service between Orange County/Santa Ana and both Mexican resort areas of Puerto Vallarta and San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos will be augmented by a second, seasonal trip on Saturdays beginning Nov. 7. The same day, Southwest also begins Saturday-only service between Baltimore/Washington and Liberia, Costa Rica, subject to foreign governmental approval.

New Domestic Flights

The flight schedule extension beginning Nov. 1, 2015, includes recurrent and new seasonal flying as well as new, twice daily service between Indianapolis and New York LaGuardia,  daily service between Denver and Cleveland, and new flights between Austin and both Seattle/Tacoma and Boston (Logan).  New service between Akron/Canton and Las Vegas begins daily operation on Nov. 15, 2015, and on Nov. 22, 2015, Southwest will begin daily flights between Orange County/Santa Ana and both St. Louis and Kansas City.

Houston (Hobby) International Terminal Project

In early 2012, Southwest Airlines approached the City of Houston seeking permission to look into the construction of a five-gate international facility at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) to offer near-international service.  Mayor Annise Parker later offered her support to bring the proposal before the full Houston City Council, which voted to authorize construction of the $156 million facility.  The carrier announced its intention to serve an initial complement of international destinations from Houston (Hobby) in December 2014, and on Mar. 7, 2015, the carrier launched seasonal international service on Saturdays between Aruba and Houston (Hobby).

FARE RULES

Some flights are subject to foreign government approval.  Purchase May 14-24, 2015, 11:59 p.m. in the respective time zone of the originating city. Travel is valid Oct. 15, 2015. through Dec. 16, 2015 from Houston (Hobby) to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos, and Mexico City, Mexico and Belize City, Belize, and San Jose, Costa Rica.  Travel is valid Nov.1 through Dec. 16, 2015 from Houston (Hobby) to Liberia/Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Montego Bay, Jamaica, and from Denver to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Blackout Dates apply.  Fares to international destinations are blacked out Nov. 20-22, 2015; fares from international destinations blacked out Nov. 27-30, 2015. Travel is valid only on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays from Houston (Hobby) to Belize City, Belize, and Liberia/Guanacaste and San Jose, Costa Rica. Travel from Houston (Hobby) to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos, Mexico, and Montego Bay, Jamaica, is valid only Sundays through Wednesdays; travel to Houston (Hobby) from Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos, Mexico, and Montego Bay, Jamaica, is valid only Tuesdays through Fridays. Travel from Denver to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, is valid only Sundays through Wednesdays; travel to Denver from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, is valid only Tuesdays through Fridays. Travel valid daily between Houston (Hobby) and Mexico City, Mexico.  Fares are valid only on nonstop service. Displayed prices include U.S. and international government taxes and fees. Rapid Rewards® 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® Fares. Fares may be combined with other Southwest Airlines combinable fares. If combining with other fares, the most restrictive fare's rules apply. Sale fares may be available on other days of week, but availability is not guaranteed. Fares are nonrefundable but may be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines®, as long as the reservation is canceled at least ten minutes prior to scheduled departure of the flight.  Failure to cancel prior to departure will result in forfeiture of remaining funds on the reservation.   Any change in itinerary could result in an increase in fare. Standby travel requires an upgrade to the Anytime Fare®. Fares are subject to change until ticketed.  Offer applies only to published, scheduled service.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

In its 44th 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 47,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually.  Southwest operates more than 3,600 flights a day, currently serving 94 destinations across the United States and six additional countries.  Southwest service to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, begins on June 7, 2015; Subject to approval of the foreign government, service to Belize City, Belize, begins Oct. 15, 2015. and to Liberia, Costa Rica begins Nov. 1, 2015.

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 while over the United States.  That connectivity enables Customers to use their personal devices to access streaming music provided by Beats Music or to view video on-demand movies and television shows, as well as nearly 20 channels of free, live TV compliments of our valued Partners.  Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free® (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply) to everyone, and there are no change fees, though fare differences might apply. In 2014, the airline proudly unveiled a bold new look:  Heart.  The new aircraft livery, airport experience, and logo, showcase the dedication of Southwest Employees to 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 42 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 2014 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found at SouthwestOneReport.com.
Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.

SOURCE Southwest Airlines