Southwest Airlines service from Houston to Liberia begins November 1

Southwest Airlines® (NYSE: LUV) new international service between Houston (Hobby) and the carrier’s 97th destination, Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport at Liberia in the Guanacaste beach and resort region of northwest Costa Rica begins November 1, 2015.

Southwest Employees, Customers, and Houstonians celebrated the new flights with Houston Mayor Annise Parker and other city leaders at a beach bash Wednesday afternoon in downtown Houston at City Hall Plaza.

“Houstonians have endured some of the highest international airfares in the country,” said Gary Kelly, Southwest’s Chairman, President, & CEO, to a crowd assembled at a pop-up beach party featuring international food and music.  “Southwest is putting our promise, our People, and our planes on these routes because you deserve lower fares and better service.”

During the upcoming summer travel season, Southwest will offer up to 159 departures a day from Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport serving 45 destinations nonstop while contractors, designers, and workers enter the homestretch of constructing a $156 million, five-gate international terminal complex, along with associated City of Houston projects for new parking and roadway improvements.

Other International Flights

Also pending the approval of the Mexican government, new once-daily service between Denver and Puerto Vallarta begins Nov. 1, 2015, for as low as $149 one-way at Southwest.com. Purchase fares now through May 24, 11:59 p.m. in the respective time zone of the originating city.  Travel Oct. 15, 2015, through Dec. 16, 2015. Blackout dates apply: fare to Puerto Vallarta is not available Nov. 20-22, 2015; fare from Puerto Vallarta is not available Nov. 27-30, 2015. Restrictions and exclusions apply. Seats and valid travel days are limited. See additional and complete fare rules below.

Daily service between Orange County/Santa Ana and both Mexican resort areas of Puerto Vallarta and San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos will be augmented by a second, seasonal trip on Saturdays beginning Nov. 7. The same day, Southwest also begins Saturday-only service between Baltimore/Washington and Liberia, Costa Rica, subject to foreign governmental approval.

Houston (Hobby) International Terminal Project

In early 2012, Southwest Airlines approached the City of Houston seeking permission to look into the construction of a five-gate international facility at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) to offer near-international service.  Mayor Annise Parker later offered her supportto bring the proposal before the full Houston City Council, which voted to authorize construction of the $156 million facility.  The carrierannounced its intention to serve an initial complement of international destinations from Houston (Hobby) in December 2014, and onMar. 7, 2015, the carrier launched seasonal international service on Saturdays between Aruba and Houston (Hobby).

From its first flights on June 18, 1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of Transportation as “The Southwest Effect,” a lowering of fares and increase in passenger traffic whenever the carrier enters new markets.  With 42 consecutive years of profitability, Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier’s performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet.

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