DALLAS, March 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines today announced it will begin selling "ATA-only service" to select destinations, and members of Southwest's frequent flyer Rapid Rewards program will be able to earn credit in Southwest's program for the ATA flights. To book the ATA service on http://www.southwest.com/ , go to http://www.southwest.com/jp/luvhome.shtml?src=PR_ATARR_030106 or call Southwest Airlines reservations at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA. The first date of travel is March 4, 2006.

"This was the next step to enhancing the codeshare with ATA to make it stronger," said Gary Kelly, Southwest's CEO. "We think our Customers will appreciate the ability to book ATA flights through Southwest and earn Rapid Reward credits in Southwest's program for doing that."

Southwest Airlines will sell ATA-only service between the following cities: Washington National and Chicago Midway, Dallas/Fort Worth International and Chicago Midway, Honolulu and Las Vegas, Honolulu and Los Angeles, Honolulu and Oakland, Honolulu and Ontario (Calif.), Honolulu and Phoenix, Houston Hobby and La Guardia, Chicago Midway and La Guardia, Hilo and Oakland, Los Angeles and Maui, Oakland and Maui, and Phoenix and Maui.

Rapid Rewards Members booking and traveling within the continental United States will earn one (1) credit toward a free Award for each one-way trip. Customers traveling to Hawaii on ATA will receive two (2) credits for each one-way trip. Customers flying to international destination like Mexico or the Caribbean (which will be sold only by ATA) will receive two (2) credits for each one-way trip. Rapid Rewards Members receive a free Award after earning 16 credits within 24 months. ATA flights booked through an online travel agency are not eligible for Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards credit.

Travelers who choose to purchase travel through ATA will have the option of earning credits in the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards program or earning points in the ATA Travel Awards program.

Southwest will further enhance its Rapid Rewards program in third quarter 2006 (exact date to be announced later), when it makes the redemption of Rapid Rewards Awards available for travel to select ATA destinations. (Note: Hawaii is a popular destination for ATA. Seats for Customers traveling on an Award will be very limited and demand from Rapid Rewards Members will likely exceed the available supply. Members who plan ahead and are flexible with their travel dates will have the best chance of securing reservations.)

With this addition to the program, the airline is introducing a new redemption level to its Rapid Rewards Program. Members will be able to fly anywhere in the continental U.S. for one (1) Award redeemed for a roundtrip flight and to Hawaii for two (2) Awards redeemed for each roundtrip flight.

Southwest Airlines, the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned, currently serves 62 cities in 32 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,000 flights a day and has 31,000+ Employees systemwide.

http://www.southwest.com/

CONTACT: Public Relations of Southwest Airlines, +1-214-792-4847

Web site: http://www.southwest.com/
http://www.southwest.com/jp/luvhome.shtml?src=PR_ATARR_030106