Southwest Airlines and its
133 Philadelphia-based Employees are celebrating the carrier’s first year
of service and success at Philadelphia International Airport today. “What a difference a year makes,” said Southwest Airlines Chief Executive
Officer Gary Kelly. “As we expected, we entered the Philadelphia market
and fares dropped while overall traffic increased. It’s the ‘Southwest
Effect’ at work, and we couldn’t be happier about the warm reception we
have received in Philly.”

Southwest Airlines began service to Philadelphia International Airport on
May 9, 2004, with 14 daily nonstop flights to six cities. In just one
year, Southwest Airlines’ service from Philadelphia International Airport
has blossomed—marking the fastest growing new city launch in Southwest
Airlines’ history. Today, Southwest Airlines offers 46 daily nonstop
flights from Philadelphia to 17 cities across the United States.

Other exciting Philadelphia statistics: * Since Southwest Airlines entered
the Philadelphia market, total Philadelphia traffic has increased nearly
30 percent. * In just one year, Southwest Airlines has grown to capture
nearly 10 percent of the Philadelphia market share. * Since Southwest
Airlines entered the Philadelphia market, traffic between Philadelphia and
Providence has increased by 859 percent or more than 90,000 passengers,
while the average one-way fare paid by these passengers has plummeted from
$259 to $44, a decrease of 83 percent. * Since Southwest Airlines entered
the Philadelphia market, traffic between Philadelphia and Manchester,
N.H., has increased by 828 percent or more than 75,000 passengers, while
the average one-way fare paid by these passengers has dropped from $245 to
$43, a decrease of 82 percent. * In the third quarter of 2004, the average
one-way fare between Philadelphia and Chicago Midway fell 46 percent,
while traffic increased by 137 percent. In addition, the average one-way
fare between Philadelphia and Chicago O’Hare (an airport that Southwest
Airlines does not serve) fell 44 percent, while traffic increased by 28
percent, showing that Southwest Airlines’ arrival in new markets benefits
sister airports and other airlines. * Since Southwest Airlines entered the
Philadelphia market, one-way fares between Philadelphia and
Raleigh-Durham, N.C., have dropped 74 percent; one-way fares between
Philadelphia and Phoenix have dropped 33 percent; one-way fares between
Philadelphia and Los Angeles have dropped 33 percent; one-way fares
between Philadelphia and Las Vegas have dropped 27 percent; and one-way
fares between Philadelphia and Tampa Bay have dropped 20 percent. * Since
Southwest Airlines entered the Philadelphia market, traffic to Houston
Hobby, Oakland, and Raleigh-Durham, N.C., has increased by triple digits,
while the average one-way fare on these routes has declined between 40 and
70 percent.

“Our Employees deserve all of the credit for bringing our service and low
fares to the people of Philadelphia,” said Greg Wells, Southwest Airlines
Vice President of Ground Operations. “They have worked their tails off
this past year, and they are going to celebrate this week.”

Philadelphia-based members of Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards frequent
flyer program have reason to celebrate as well. Rapid Rewards Members
flying out of Philadelphia International Airport on May 9, 2005, will
receive a bonus credit in honor of Southwest Airlines’ first anniversary
in Philadelphia.

“The people of Philadelphia have been so good to us,” said John Minor,
Southwest Airlines Philadelphia Station Manager. “The additional Rapid
Rewards credit is a token of our sincere gratitude for welcoming us into
the city.”
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