DALLAS (Map) - DALLAS, May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines announced today an expansion of its Denver service with six new nonstop flights and two new destinations. The additional service includes new nonstop flights between Denver and San Francisco and Denver and Omaha. Flights are available for booking today for travel beginning on Sept. 2, 2008. To take advantage of these new Southwest Airlines flights, visit: http://www.southwest.com/?src=PR_NS DEN_052008.

"We will continue to grow in Denver as it is a major focal point for us, and the market is responding exceptionally well to our service," said Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly.

The Company will be accommodating this new service with two aircraft that it previously planned to retire, bringing this year's net aircraft growth to 13. With today's announcement, Southwest's 2008 year-over-year available seat mile capacity growth is expected to be in the four percent range.

    BEGINNING SEPT. 2, 2008:
    -- Three new daily nonstop roundtrips between Denver and San Francisco.
    -- Three new daily nonstop roundtrips between Denver and Omaha.

To celebrate the new nonstop service, Southwest is offering a $59 one-way advance purchase fare between Denver and Omaha and a $79 one-way advance purchase fare between Denver and San Francisco. These 14-day advance purchase fares are available for purchase today at southwest.com for travel beginning on Sept. 2, 2008, through the end of the schedule, currently Oct. 30, 2008.

Southwest Airlines began service to Denver on Jan. 3, 2006, with 13 daily nonstop departures to three destinations. The airline currently operates 79 daily nonstop flights from the Mile High city, making Denver the fastest growing city in the Company's history. With previously announced service, Southwest will operate 95 nonstop flights from Denver to 30 cities when these flights commence on Sept. 2, 2008. More than 150 Southwest Airlines Employees call Denver home.

NEW SERVICE FARE RULES

Fares are available for purchase today through June 4, 2008. Fares are for nonstop flights only. All tickets must be purchased 14-days in advance. When combining fares, all ticketing restrictions apply. Seats are limited. Fares may vary by destination and day of travel and will not be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods. Fares do not include a federal segment tax of $3.40 per takeoff and landing. Fares do not include airport-assessed passenger facility charges (PFC) of up to $9.00 one-way and U.S. government-imposed September 11th Security Fees of $5.00 one-way. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Tickets are nonrefundable but, if unused, may be applied toward the purchase of future travel on Southwest Airlines. Fares are valid on Southwest-operated published, scheduled service only and are not available through the Group Desk.

After 37 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation's leading low-fare carrier, continues to differentiate itself from other airlines -- offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience. Southwest offers a very comfortable ride with all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom with a young, all-Boeing 737 fleet. Southwest recently updated its gate areas and improved its boarding procedure to make flying Southwest even more convenient and simple. 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.

                           http://www.southwest.com