Southwest adds NBA plane

© Southwest

Southwest Airlines has revealed a new airplane themed after the National Basketball Association (NBA) called Slam Dunk One.

The jet is a Boeing 737 that will be put into service today and will fly in the airline's regular 61-destination rotation.

The airplane is the result of an expanded marketing partnership between Southwest and the NBA and will be emblazoned with a basketball going through a hoop on the front of the fuselage trailed by an orange wave starting from the rear of the plane.

Southwest adds 49 new flights

Southwest Airlines is adding 49 new flights across the U.S., with half beginning November 12 and the other half February 5, 2006.

The first round includes a number of new flights from New Orleans, including two daily roundtrips to Dallas Love Field, Texas, Nashville, Tennessee, Orlando, Florida and Tampa Bay, Florida.

New flights will also be offered from Las Vegas, Nevada, with daily roundtrips operating to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Providence, Rhode Island, Spokane, Washington and St. Louis, Missouri.

Special low fares apply to the Las Vegas service, starting from $69 one-way and available for purchase until December 8 for travel from November 12 through December 15.

Southwest adds more flights from St. Louis

Discount airline Southwest has announced that it will be adding three non-stop flights from St. Louis' Lambert International Airport.

The destinations will be Kansas City, Tampa and Las Vegas and flights are scheduled to begin on February 5, 2006.

Currently Southwest already serves these routes, meaning that these additions will increase frequency to these cities. There will soon be two daily flights to Las Vegas and Tampa and six for Kansas City.

By February, Southwest will have 67 daily flights from St. Louis, which puts the airline in second place behind American Airlines, which has 200 daily flights at the airport.

Kevin Dolliole, the airport's director, was excited about Southwest's decision and said he would continue to try to get more flights for the airport.

A return to Denver for Southwest

Southwest has announced that it will be offering flights to Denver after a 19-year absence. The service should begin early next year.

Denver is America's 12th largest airport in terms of passenger numbers and is primarily served by United Airlines and discount airline Frontier.

The airline's presence should increase competition in the Denver market and push airfares lower.

Southwest signs deal with LasVegas.com

Discount airline Southwest has announced that it has signed a deal with LasVegas.com, a website for Las Vegas tourists.

The agreement makes Southwest Airlines the exclusive provider of vacation packages booked through the website.

Southwest increases flights to New Orleans

© Southwest Airlines

Discount airline Southwest has announced it will add more daily flights to the recovering city of New Orleans.

Starting October 17, there will be two new flights between New Orleans and Houston's Hobby Airport, boosting the total number of daily round trip flights between these cities to four.

Southwest begins service to Southwest Florida

Southwest Airlines has begun service to Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers.

The airline will now offer nine non-stop flights a day to Baltimore/Washington, Chicago Midway, Long Island/Islip, Orlando and Philadelphia.

Direct and connecting services will also be offered to 29 other destinations throughout the US, including Las Vegas and Phoenix.

Passengers flying from Southwest Florida will be able to benefit from significant discounts by purchasing tickets in advance. Deals include one-way flights to Orlando from $29 or $79 one-way to Southwest's other non-stop destinations.

Southwest expands Rapid Rewards scheme

Southwest Airlines is expanding its Rapid Rewards scheme for frequent fliers by teaming up with the InterContinental Hotels group (IHG).

From October 1, Rapid Rewards members who stay in any of the 3,500 IHG properties around the world and enrol in IHG's own Priority Club rewards scheme will receive an extra half-credit on their rewards scheme with Southwest.

Southwest to resume New Orleans flights

Southwest Airlines has revealed its new schedule for the initial resumption of flights to New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport.

Starting September 20, 2005, there will only be two daily roundtrip flights between New Orleans and Houston's Hobby Airport. This schedule will remain until January 9, 2006, after which the discount airline will adjust its flights according to the situation.

Southwest Airlines enjoys higher passenger numbers

Southwest Airlines, the biggest US discount airline, carried more passengers in July. 

Statistics based on capacity growth and record load factor showed that traffic for Southwest grew by 14.7 per cent compared to 12 months ago. 

The discount airline set a company record with the highest monthly percentage ever in load factor, the percentage of seats filled, at 80.8 per cent, up from 79.4 per cent last year. 

Southwest Airlines announces student flights winners

Southwest Airlines has announced the winners in its new initiative to offer free travel to Hispanic college students in tough circumstances.

The winners will receive free airline tickets for travel on Southwest Airlines during the 2005-06 academic year.

Southwest Airlines set up the initiative to make it easier for Hispanic students in difficult socio-economic conditions to travel away from home to get a good higher education.

In-flight comedians on the rise

After Southwest Airlines' experiment with humor on its flights, a number of other carriers are following suit.

Last year, Southwest began encouraging its flight attendants and pilots to use humor if they felt it was in their personality.

The result was a completely different flying experience instead of the traditional announcements about flotation devices and seat belts.

Southwest adds Phoenix and Tampa flights

Discount carrier Southwest Airlines has announced it is adding new direct flights from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Phoenix, Arizona and Tampa, Florida.

The new flight means Southwest will increase their daily departures from Pittsburgh from ten to 19. This could be a major challenge to the struggling US Airways, which is currently the biggest carrier at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Southwest offers Fall coast to coast discounts

Discount carrier Southwest Airlines is kicking off the Fall season by announcing that it will offer cheaper airfares on its cross-country flights.

Fares will range from $39 to $149 for one-way flights, varying by destination and day of travel. Tickets must be booked at least 14 days in advance.

Some sample one-way discounts include Chicago, Illinois to San Diego, California for $39 and $59 for a flight from Chicago to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Southwest Airlines raises airfares

© Southwest Airlines

Discount carrier Southwest Airlines joins the group of airlines who have recently announced airfare hikes due to rocketing fuel prices.

Airplane fuel prices have gone up by 55 per cent this year to $1.92 a gallon.

Recently all the major US airlines, including smaller discount carrier JetBlue said they had to increase airfares in order to stay afloat, but Southwest had not.

The airline, which is the world's largest and most profitable discount carrier, will increase ticket fares by as much as $8 for round-trip flights on Saturday.

Southwest Airlines extending discount promotions

After recently extending the time passengers can use their frequent flyer miles from 12 months to 24 months, discount carrier Southwest Airlines is offering another discount scheme through its DING! internet product.

Subscribers to DING! receive discount Southwest airfares via email whenever an especially cheap airfare or promotion comes about.

Southwest is now offering a one-day sale for DING!'s customers. Airfares will be as low as $23 one-way and no higher than $94 until nine pm mountain time tonight.

Southwest extends frequent flyer program

Discount carrier Southwest Airlines announced today it would be expanding its Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program.

Effective immediately, the airline will give frequent flyer members 24 months to earn credits towards free travel, an increase from the previous level of 12 months.

Southwest will also remove system blackout dates and implement seat restrictions for Reward travel.