Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) today
announces additions to the leadership team in its finance department.
Effective June 19, 2001, Southwest`s vice president of finance and chief
financial officer, Gary Kelly, will become the executive vice president and
CFO.  This executive change creates new positions within the finance
department.  Mike Van de Ven will join two other corporate officers, Bob
Jordan, currently Southwest`s controller, and Laura Wright, currently
Southwest`s treasurer, to create a finance department executive committee.
 
“Bob, Mike, and Laura have years of Southwest and financial experience and
have done an extraordinary job in leading our finance department,” said Kelly,
currently Southwest`s vice president finance and chief financial officer.
“They are very capable and very deserving of this new responsibility.”
 
Wright will take on the responsibility of vice president of finance in
addition to her treasurer duties.  She will be responsible for the airline`s
overall corporate finance strategy, its capital market and aircraft financing
activities, new and used aircraft acquisitions, corporate tax, insurance
programs, financial risk management activities, cash management and investing
functions, and stock options.  Wright joined Southwest in 1988 and has held
many positions during her tenure with the airline including:  director of
corporate taxation, director of corporate finance, and assistant treasurer.
 
Van de Ven, who is currently senior director of financial planning, will
become vice president of financial planning and analysis.  He will be
responsible for coordinating the airline`s annual operating and capital
spending plans, capacity forecasting, revenue and traffic anaylsis, investment
analysis, finance Employee training, and providing analytical support and
other financial services to various departments.  Van de Ven joined the
Southwest family in 1993.  Throughout his last eight years with the company,
Van de Ven held several positions including:  director of internal audit,
director of financial planning, and most recently senior director of financial
planning and analysis.
 
Bob Jordan will complete the finance department executive committee with
his experience as the airline`s controller.  As controller, Jordan oversees
the Company`s internal and external financial reporting and accounting
activities, accounting operational areas such as payroll and accounts payable
and receivable, and activities related to sales and revenue transaction
processing.
 
“I look forward to these three well-qualified leaders overseeing the
finance department,” Kelly said.  “Through their collaborative efforts,
Southwest Airlines will be well poised to continue its rich history of
financial success.”
 
Southwest Airlines, now the nation`s fourth largest carrier in terms of
Customer boardings, serves 58 airports in 57 cities in 29 states.  The airline
currently has more than 30,000 Employees and operates more than 2,750 flights
a day.

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