Southwest Airlines Announces Fares & Flights To/From Minneapolis-St. Paul

Southwest Airlines today announced the carrier's low fares and flight schedule from Minneapolis-St. Paul beginning on March 8, 2009. During a media conference at the landmark Mall of America, Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President of Corporate Services Ron Ricks announced that the airline will begin service with eight daily nonstop flights to Chicago Midway with 21-day advanced purchase fares as low as $69 one-way.

"Southwest Airlines is famous for increasing traffic and decreasing fares when we enter a market, and it already appears that ‘the Southwest Effect' is alive and well in Minneapolis-St. Paul," Ricks said. "The people of Minnesota have been asking for Southwest Airlines service for many years, and we can't wait to introduce them to our legendary Customer Service, as well as our low fares, ontime flights, and no hidden fees."

In addition to the eight daily nonstop flights to Chicago Midway, Southwest Airlines will offer direct or connecting service to more than 30 destinations, including: Las Vegas, Denver, Los Angeles, Houston, and Baltimore/Washington, just to name a few. Southwest Airlines will operate from Gate 7 in the Humphrey Terminal and will have about 35 full-time Employees.

"For over a decade we've worked diligently to attract Southwest Airlines to the Minneapolis - St. Paul Airport," said Metropolitan Airport Commission Chairman Jack Lanners. "Southwest's new service beginning March, 2009 will provide Minnesotan's a low-cost alternative accessing the Southwest Airlines route system. For many years there has been a strong interest in having Southwest Airlines serve our community. Our airport's low-cost operating structure is one factor that helped make it possible for Southwest to enter the Minnesota market. We look forward to a successful partnership with Southwest Airlines providing new low-cost air service meeting our travel needs."

To view a blog post on this news, visit: http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/southwest-is-coming-town and http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/ding-march-and-minneapolisst-paul-now-sale

After 37 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation's leading low-fare carrier, continues to stand above other airlines-offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service with no hidden fees. Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience with all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom. Southwest recently updated its gate areas and improved its boarding procedure to make flying Southwest Airlines even more convenient. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned, currently serves 64 cities in 32 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,400 flights a day and has more than 34,000 Employees systemwide.