LUV Airline Comes to Milwaukee

Southwest Airlines Celebrates New Service at Mitchell International Airport

Southwest Airlines is celebrating its long-awaited entry into Wisconsin with a series of events from October 31 - November 1. Join the Employees of Southwest Airlines for a weekend to remember:

Saturday, October 31, 2009

The Arrival

    WHO:    Southwest Airlines Employees arriving from its headquarters in
            Dallas
            Milwaukee-based Southwest Airlines Employees greeting the
            aircraft

    WHAT:   More than 90 Southwest Airlines Employees will arrive on a
            charter flight at Concourse D, Gate D56 at Mitchell to help
            launch the airline's new service from Milwaukee. This will be
            the first Southwest Airlines plane to land at Mitchell this
            weekend. The flight will be greeted by the local Southwest
            Airlines Employees who are opening the Station for the airline.
            The airport will provide a fitting, Wisconsin welcome as the
            plane taxis to the gate.

    WHEN:   12:45 p.m.

    WHERE:  Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport
            Concourse D - Gate D56

            ***Media arrives at Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter at 12:30
            p.m. for escort to gate.  Contact on-site SWA Spokesperson Brad
            Hawkins at 214-792-4413 upon arrival for escort to the gate.

            Mitchell Airport PR contact: Ryan McAdams at 414-426-5199

            IMPORTANT SECURITY NOTICE:  Media members planning to attend the
            event should submit their full names and dates of birth to
            Mitchell Airport staff by 4pm Friday.  Please send to
            prowe@mitchellairport.com

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Sharing the Spirit

    WHO:    Southwest Airlines Employees and the families of the Ronald
            McDonald House Charities of Eastern Wisconsin

    WHAT:   Southwest Employees spend some time at Ronald McDonald House,
            the carrier's long-standing nonprofit partner, for a Halloween
            celebration to remember!  Local Employees will spend time with
            families of critically ill and injured children and infants
            celebrating the spirit of Halloween by painting pumpkins,
            decorating cookies, and providing trick-or-treat bags.

    WHEN:   3:00pm

    WHERE:  Ronald McDonald House of Milwaukee
            8948 W Watertown Plank Rd
            Wauwatosa,  WI  53226

            ***Media should contact on-site Southwest Spokesperson Brad
            Hawkins at 214-792-4413 while en route to the house.

            Ronald McDonald House phone:  414-475-5333

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Southwest's First Customer Flights

    WHO:    Southwest Airlines Customers and Employees

    WHAT:   Southwest Airlines will be celebrating the carrier's very first
            Customer flights from Mitchell Airport.  Southwest will be
            giving away free coffee, pastries, and special surprises for
            the first Customers departing on nonstop flights to its six
            destinations.

            Media Interview Opportunities with Customers, Crew, and
            Employees.  Photo Op to capture the first flight board and
            depart.

    WHEN:   6:45am - Festivities Begin
            7:20am - First Flight Departs

            ***Media arrives in Concession Mall just outside Concourse D
            security checkpoint by 6:30am.  Contact on-site SWA
            Spokesperson Brad Hawkins at 214-792-4413 upon arrival for
            escort to the gate.

    WHERE:  Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport
            Concourse D - Concession Mall security checkpoint

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Southwest Tailgate Party

    WHO:    Southwest Airlines Employees, Officers and Customers
            Green Bay Packers fans

    WHAT:   TOUCHDOWN IN MILWAUKEE!

            Southwest Airlines and 1,000 of its newest friends will be
            celebrating the airline's first day of Milwaukee service with a
            free tailgate party at McKinley Park!  Milwaukeeans have the
            opportunity to join in the fun as the carrier broadcasts the
            Packers game live!  Southwest's CEO Gary Kelly will be mixing
            and mingling with guests and the airline will be giving away
            airline tickets and prizes every time the Packers score.  Come
            check out the food, revelry, and the Southwest Spirit as the
            crowd cheers on their hometown team!

    WHEN:   3pm - 7pm
            ***Media should contact on-site Southwest Spokesperson Whitney
            Eichinger at 214-914-0982

    WHERE:  McKinley Park Marina
            1750 N Lincoln Memorial Drive

Monday, November 2, 2009

Airport News Conference

    WHO:    -- Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker
            -- Supervisor Michael Mayo, Sr., Chairman of Milwaukee County
               Transportation, Public Works and Transit Committee
            -- Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport Director Barry Bateman
            -- Southwest Airlines Chairman, President, and CEO Gary Kelly

    WHAT:   Southwest Airlines will hold a news conference to officially
            kickoff service to/from Milwaukee Mitchell International
            Airport.  Hundreds of Southwest Airlines Customers and
            Employees will be on-hand to celebrate the milestone of
            Southwest's 68th city

    WHEN:   Starts at 10:00am  (Live trucks part in the airport loading dock
            area as usual; reporter/photographers park in the garage)

            ***Media Contact Paul Flaningan, 469-237-0814 and Brad Hawkins,
            214-792-4413 for details

            Mitchell Airport PR contact: Ryan McAdams at 414-426-5199

    WHERE:  Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport
            Concourse D- Concession Mall (outside security)

    WHY:    Southwest Airlines is celebrating the kick-off of MKE
            service with a weekend-long celebration. MKE is Southwest's
            68th destination systemwide.

            Based in Dallas, Southwest operates nearly 3,200 daily nonstop
            departures systemwide and has nearly 35,000 Employees
            nationwide.
                                   www.southwest.com


/PRNewswire -- Oct. 30/

SOURCE Southwest Airlines