Southwest Airlines announced
today that it will cease flight operations at Houston George Bush
Intercontinental Airport at the end of the day on April 2, 2005.
Southwest’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport departures will continue
to operate as presently scheduled through April 2, 2005. Ticketed
passengers, passengers holding reservations, or passengers desiring to
make reservations for flights to or from Houston George Bush
Intercontinental Airport have no need to alter their plans involving
travel prior to April 3, 2005. Southwest will start contacting those
passengers who are currently holding reservations into and out of Houston
George Bush Intercontinental Airport for the timeperiod of April 3, 2005
through June 6, 2005, in order to assist them in reaccommodating their air
travel needs. Southwest currently operates six daily nonstop flights between Houston
George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport.
Southwest Airlines will continue to offer service between Houston and
Dallas through its Houston Hobby Airport operation. Houston Hobby is
Southwest’s fifth busiest airport with 139 daily departures, including 29
daily flights to Dallas Love Field.

Gary Kelly, Southwest’s Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated:
“We are discontinuing service at Houston George Bush Intercontinental
Airport at the end of the day on April 2, 2005, for business reasons. With
the continuing airline industry challenges, we cannot continue to serve
two airports in Houston and realize the losses we have generated for years
at Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport. We are making an enormous
commitment to Houston Hobby Airport, making it the focal point of our
future growth.”

In 1980, Southwest started its dual airport operation in Houston with
seven daily nonstop departures from Houston George Bush Intercontinental
Airport to Dallas Love Field Airport. Since that time, passenger traffic
has grown at Houston Hobby Airport bringing the total number of daily
nonstop departures to 139; while, Southwest’s Houston George Bush
Intercontinental Airport operation has decreased to six daily nonstop
departures.

“Although we are discontinuing service at Houston George Bush
Intercontinental Airport at the end of the day on April 2, 2005, we hope
to accommodate all of our Houston Customers and friends via Houston Hobby
Airport,” Kelly said. “While we do, indeed, regret that Houston George
Bush Intercontinental Airport will no longer be a part of Southwest’s
operations, we celebrate the fact that the people of Houston can still
take advantage of our extensive flight schedule at Houston Hobby Airport.”

Kelly also stated that all of Southwest’s Houston George Bush
Intercontinental Employees have performed superbly and are being
guaranteed jobs elsewhere on the Southwest system, with the opportunity to
work at Houston Hobby Airport if they so desire. A generous separation
package is being offered to Employees that choose to leave the Company.

In its 33-year history, Southwest Airlines has only discontinued
operations at four other airports: San Francisco International Airport in
2001; Detroit City Airport in 1993; Denver’s Stapleton International
Airport in 1986; and Beaumont/Port Arthur in 1980. 
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