Spirit Magazine - June 2013 - (Page 14)

On a hot summer day in Dallas, 42 years ago this month, Southwest Airlines officially took flight, forever changing the way Americans fly. The history of Southwest is a fascinating one. From the early days of hot pants, go-go boots, and handing out free whiskey onboard to bold expansion and the evolution of lowfare travel, Southwest has democratized the skies. In honor of our Anniversary, I thought I’d take a look at our past, our present, and our future. Southwest was conceived on a cocktail napkin when San Antonio businessman Rollin King and his attorney, Herb Kelleher, met at the St. Anthony Club and etched out what would become the “Texas Triangle,” charting a path for lowfare travel between Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. The vision was simple: offer business people a faster, more efficient way to travel at a lower cost and do it with warm, personable service and a smile. Southwest carries more originating domestic Passengers than any other airline in the U.S.—but even as we’ve grown and evolved over the years, we’ve never lost sight of our original vision. It is still who we are 42 years later: low fares, a convenient flight schedule, and Legendary Customer Service. The only real change is in how we serve our Customers. We’ve added a few bells and whistles (not to mention quite a few destinations) along the way. Today, shorthaul travel is declining, and the travel habits of our Customers have evolved. That’s why we’ve updated our fleet with newly refreshed cabins, installed WiFi and live TV access onboard, and introduced the sleek, new Boeing 737-800 series aircraft into the fleet for longer flights. We acquired AirTran Airways and are in the process of integrating our two airlines to be a bigger, stronger Company, and we’ve revamped our Rapid Rewards Frequent Flyer program. Additionally, we’re equipping Southwest for international service, and AirTran is providing a running start with service to destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean. We will continue to look for ways to give our Customers more choices and more value. Southwest has always been a maverick and a pioneer, looking for new and better ways to fly. But through it all, we’ve never lost sight of our purpose: to connect you, our valued Customer, to the moments that are most important in your life through friendly, reliable, and lowcost travel. Thanks for coming along for the ride! Gary Kelly Chairman, President, and CEO Southwest Airlines 14 spirit june 2013 PhotograPhy By Dan SellerS Gary’s Greeting Past, Present, and Future

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Spirit Magazine - June 2013

Spirit Magazine - June 2013
Contents
Gary’s Greeting
Gary’s Greeting en Español
Star of the Month
Freedom Story
From the Editor
Your Words
Your Pictures
Media Center
Eat Drink Sleep
The Numbers
Wise Guide
Business
Eat Like A Chef
Promotional Series: Spirit of Music City
...the Greatest Sports Tale Ever Told
Your Adventure in Oakland
Promotional Series: Spirit of Charleston
Calendar
Fun!
Spotlight
Community Outreach
Route Map
Rapid Rewards Partners
Flight Service
The "if" List

Spirit Magazine - June 2013