Southwest Airlines celebrates
20 years at Chicago Midway today, and Chicago Customers are getting all
the gifts! Today, Southwest announces a plethora of new service from the
Windy City giving Chicago Customers even more flights to even more
Southwest cities. “Southwest made Chicago Midway a main focus for growth in 2004. This
dramatic increase in flights shows our dedication to that growth, and our
new gates will help accommodate our expanding schedule,” said Gary Kelly,
Southwest’s chief executive officer. “The ability to add these 18 new
flights over the next five months is a testament to our Employees’ hard
work and our Customers’ loyalty and dedication to Southwest Airlines.”

Southwest’s new service breaks down as follows. To take advantage of these
new flights click:
http://www.southwest.com/jp/systemwide_mdw2.shtml?src=PR_MDW20th_031705

Beginning May 4, 2005: * One new daily nonstop flight between Chicago
Midway and San Jose. * One additional daily nonstop flight between Chicago
Midway and Tampa Bay (for a total of seven daily). Beginning May 31, 2005:
* One new daily nonstop flight between Chicago Midway and Austin. * One
new daily nonstop flight between Chicago Midway and New Orleans. * Two
additional daily nonstop flights between Chicago Midway and Philadelphia
(for a total of seven daily). * One additional daily nonstop flight
between Chicago Midway and Albuquerque (for a total of two daily).
Beginning June 17, 2005: * Two new daily nonstop flights between Chicago
Midway and Buffalo. * Two additional daily nonstop flights between Chicago
Midway and Houston Hobby (for a total of six daily). * One additional
daily nonstop flight between Chicago Midway and Islip/Long Island (for a
total of four daily). Beginning July 5, 2005: * Two new daily nonstop
flights between Chicago Midway and Albany, N.Y. * One new daily nonstop
flight between Chicago Midway and Tucson. * One new daily nonstop flight
between Chicago Midway and Sacramento. * One additional daily nonstop
flight between Chicago Midway and Los Angeles (for a total of seven
daily). * One additional daily nonstop flight between Chicago Midway and
Islip/Long Island (four a total of five daily).

“This incredible amount of new service in the coming months will make
traveling more convenient for our Customers,” said Kelly. “Additionally,
these new flights will bring Southwest Airlines to more than 3,000 daily
nonstop departures nationwide.”

Southwest always is offering low fares, and the new nonstop service
features even lower introductory fares. For example, new nonstop flights
between Chicago Midway and Buffalo are available for as low as $39 one-way
(for travel beginning June 17, 2005), and new nonstop flights between
Chicago Midway and New Orleans are available for as low as $79 one-way
(for travel beginning May 31, 2005). Go to http://www.southwest.com/ to
take advantage introductory fares in all new markets.

The introductory fares are available for purchase March 17, 2005, through
May 27, 2005, and are valid for travel through Sept. 12, 2005. Tickets
must be purchased at least 14 days before departure and within one day of
making reservations. Seats are limited and will not be available on some
flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods.
Fares do not include a $3.20 segment fee per takeoff and landing. Fares do
not include airport-assessed passenger facility charges of up to $9
one-way and the federal September 11 security fee of up to $5 one-way.
Tickets are nonrefundable but may be applied toward the purchase of future
travel on Southwest Airlines (except for tickets purchased through our
Group Tickets program). Fares are valid on published, scheduled service
only. Fares may be purchased one-way and may be combined with other fares.
When combining fares, the most restrictive conditions apply. Any change in
itinerary will result in an increase in fare. Fares are subject to change
until ticketed.

Other Chicago Midway statistics of note: * Chicago Midway will get four
new flights to Pittsburgh when Southwest begins service in Pittsburgh on
May 4, 2005. * Southwest’s last major flight increase at Chicago Midway
was October 31, 2004. At the time, Southwest offered 145 daily nonstop
departures from Chicago Midway to 30 cities. As of July 5, 2005, Southwest
will offer 192 daily nonstop departures from Chicago Midway to 41 cities.
* Today, Southwest begins new daily nonstop flights between Chicago Midway
and Norfolk, Va., and Salt Lake City. Southwest also begins additional
nonstop service to Baltimore/Washington, Orlando, and Phoenix. * With this
new service, Chicago Midway will move to Southwest’s third busiest airport
(from fourth) in terms of daily departures. * Southwest occupies 25 gates
at Chicago Midway and currently offers 166 daily nonstop flights to 32
cities. * Over the last 20 years, Southwest has grown to capture more than
47 percent of the Chicago Midway market share. * Chicago is Southwest’s
fastest growing city, as well. Since Chicago Midway service began on March
17, 1985, with seven daily flights to St. Louis, Southwest has increased
its service here 2,271 percent in terms of daily flights. * In third
quarter 2004, Southwest flew more than 1.5 million Customers at Chicago
Midway. * Of the 59 cities Southwest serves, 57 are accessible from
Chicago Midway.

Southwest Airlines also is heavily invested in the Chicago community. In
2004, Southwest’s direct economic impact in Chicago was more than $319
million (salaries and benefits paid to Employees, fuel, landing fees, and
other expenditures). Most of the contributions come from the airline’s
large Employee base. In addition, Southwest also has an investment
commitment of more than $570 million in Company resources dedicated to
Chicago.

Nearly every aspect of Southwest’s operation can be seen at Chicago
Midway. Southwest has added a provisioning base, pilot base, flight
attendant base, maintenance base, reservations center, recruiting office,
and other departments to accommodate its tremendous growth over the years.
Southwest Airlines is actively recruiting locally for airport positions to
support the airline’s growth at Chicago Midway.

And that’s not all! Today, Southwest Airlines is celebrating its 20th
birthday in Chicago by honoring Customers both at the airport and
downtown. Southwest Airlines’ Customers traveling through Chicago Midway
will be entertained with gate games and prizes along with birthday cookies
and gifts! Additionally, Southwest will be hosting a birthday party
downtown. Airline Employees will be out in full force with gifts, candy,
and will be giving away Southwest Airlines’ tickets every 20 minutes!

With the last wave of new service additions July 5, Southwest will operate
192 daily nonstop departures from Chicago Midway. Systemwide, Southwest
currently offers 2,900 flights per day.
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