Southwest Airlines Chief
Executive Officer, Gary Kelly, announced today that the low fare carrier
would add 16 nonstop flights from Chicago Midway Airport to 13 existing
nonstop markets. This additional nonstop service to Orlando, Fort
Lauderdale/Hollywood, Manchester, Las Vegas, Raleigh-Durham, Tampa Bay,
Los Angeles International, Oakland, Phoenix, Seattle, Providence,
Philadelphia, and Columbus will begin in the first quarter of 2005. To
take advantage of this new Southwest service and great low fares, visit
http://www.southwest.com/jp/luvhome.shtml?src=PR_MDWservice_110104 . At a meeting with journalists last week, CEO Kelly indicated that the
Company planned to expand “significantly” at Chicago Midway Airport, the
carrier’s fourth largest market, in the first quarter. He told those in
attendance, “Our Number One priority is Chicago Midway.”

The 16 additional flights break down as follows:—Two additional daily
nonstop flights between Chicago Midway and Orlando (for a total of six
daily) starting January 16 and February 4, 2005.—Two additional daily
nonstop flights between Chicago Midway and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood (for
a total of five daily) starting January 16 and February 4, 2005.—Two
additional daily nonstop flights between Chicago Midway and Manchester
(for a total of four daily) starting January 16 and February 4, 2005.—
One additional daily nonstop flight between Chicago Midway and Las Vegas
(for a total of 10 daily) starting February 4, 2005.—One additional
daily nonstop flight between Chicago Midway and Raleigh-Durham (for a
total of four daily) starting February 4, 2005.—One additional daily
nonstop flight between Chicago Midway and Tampa Bay (for a total of six
daily) starting February 11, 2005.—One additional daily nonstop flight
between Chicago Midway and Los Angeles International (for a total of six
daily) starting March 4, 2005.—One additional daily nonstop flight
between Chicago Midway and Oakland (for a total of six daily) starting
March 4, 2005.—One additional daily nonstop flight between Chicago
Midway and Phoenix (for a total of five daily) starting March 4, 2005.—
One additional daily nonstop flight between Chicago Midway and Seattle
(for a total of three daily) starting March 4, 2005.—One additional
daily nonstop flight between Chicago Midway and Providence (for a total of
four daily) starting March 4, 2005.—One additional daily nonstop flight
between Chicago Midway and Philadelphia (for a total of five daily)
starting March 4, 2005.—One additional daily nonstop flight between
Chicago Midway and Columbus (for a total of seven daily) starting March 4,
2005.

CEO Kelly indicated that Southwest Airlines could commence this Chicago
service using its 19 existing gates on Concourse B. Southwest Airlines is
taking delivery of 29 Boeing 737-700 aircraft in 2005.

Southwest Airlines started service at Chicago Midway Airport in March 1985
with seven daily flights. Today, the carrier has 145 daily nonstop
departures and more than 2,900 Employees based in Chicago. With today’s
announcement, the airline will have 161 daily nonstop departures
commencing in the first quarter to 30 cities with additional direct or
connecting service to 26 cities.
——-