Southwest Airlines Participates in Federal Airlift Effort; Carrier Will Bring Support Into New Orleans, Transport Evacuees

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) September 2, 2005 -- Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) today sent its second humanitarian flight into New Orleans as part of the government's ongoing relief efforts for the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast. A Southwest Boeing 737-700 departed from the carrier's Dallas Headquarters at approximately 11:30 a.m. with Federal law enforcement officials onboard, bound for New Orleans. Also onboard were food, water, and other supplies needed to support relief efforts.
    
Once in New Orleans, Southwest personnel will assist in transporting evacuees to facilities at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Southwest has dedicated an aircraft to this effort and will make additional trips into and out of New Orleans as coordinated with the various Federal and state agencies directing the relief effort.
    
Southwest Airlines is grateful for the opportunity to provide assistance to the residents of the Gulf Coast but emphasizes that access to the area is extremely limited. Southwest is participating in the humanitarian effort coordinated by several Federal agencies including the Department of Transportation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Department of Homeland Security.
    
Southwest encourages people who want to help, to donate money to their local American Red Cross (ARC), rather than seeking to bring goods to a local airport. Since flights into New Orleans and the surrounding area are extremely limited, and because the relief efforts will endure into the coming months, donating money to the ARC is the most effective way to provide support.

http://www.southwest.com

Note to Editors: Media will not be permitted on these relief flights, at the request of the Federal government, in order to leave every open seat for evacuees.

Media Contact:
Public Relations
+1-214-792-4847
Customers:
+1-800-I-FLY-SWA or +1-800-435-9792
en Espanol:
+1-800-VAMONOS or +1-800-826-6667
All of Southwest Airlines

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