About Southwest Airlines

Dallas, Texas-based Southwest Airlines serves over 60 cities in more than 30 states with an all-Boeing 737 aircraft fleet.

Founding

Herb Kelleher and Rollin King founded Southwest Airlines more than 38 years ago. The airline started service between Texas cities Dallas, Houston and San Antonio in June 1971. Lamar Muse was the airline's first president.

Milestone

Southwest carried its one millionth passenger in 1974. Throughout the late 1970s, the airline continued its expansion to other Texas cities, including Austin, El Paso and Corpus Christi.

More Milestones

In 1977, Southwest stock is offered on the New York Stock Exchange for the first time and carried its 5,000,000th passenger.

Expansion in the 1980s

Southwest spreads its wings beyond Texas in the 1980s, flying to California destinations including Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco.

East Coast Expansion

Southwest started its expansion to the East Coast in 1993, introducing service to cities including Baltimore, Maryland, Tampa Bay and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Jacksonville, Florida became the airline's 50th served city in 1997.

Repeal of the Wright

Today, Southwest operates 3200 flights daily. In 2006, changes in the Wright Amendment were adopted to allow the airline to introduce non-stop flights to Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri from Dallas Love Field. The amendment will be fully repealed in 2014, allowing service to any airport from Dallas Love Field.

References

• Southwest Airlines