April 23, 2010, Tampa, Fla. – Southwest Airlines
(NYSE: LUV) today honored the
State of Florida with the unveiling of Florida One, a Boeing 737
emblazoned with an artist's rendering of the state flag. Southwest Airlines' top Leadership celebrated the
high-flying tribute to the State of Florida at an event in a Tampa
International Airport hangar with National Wildlife Refuge Association
President Evan Hirsche, and Southwest's Florida-based Employees.
Southwest Airline's Florida One is a tribute to the Sunshine State.
"We are thrilled to honor Florida with this
beautiful aircraft; it is truly a demonstration of our dedication to
Florida and a tribute to our more than 2,500 hard-working Florida
Employees," said Southwest Airlines Chairman, President, and CEO Gary
Kelly. "Our pride for Florida will fly high over the 68 cities
Southwest serves."
Since beginning service to Florida in January of 1996, Southwest
Airlines has grown from 17 daily nonstop departures to 284 daily nonstop
departures. Southwest now carries 20 percent of all air traffic to the
state of Florida. Southwest Airlines will begin service to its seventh
Florida city, Panama City Beach, on May 23, 2010.
More than 200 Southwest Airlines Employees and community leaders
celebrated the unveiling today at Tampa Airport. Following the
unveiling event in Tampa, the aircraft began a tour of the airline's
Florida cities. At each stop, the airline will host a celebratory event
in the Southwest gate area to display the aircraft to Employees and
Customers.
"Florida is proud to have such a strong Southwest Airlines presence
in Florida," said Governor Charlie Crist. "Not only is Southwest
employing thousands of talented Floridians, but is also making Florida
more easily accessible and affordable for visitors. I am grateful for
their continued commitment to Florida."
Florida One joins thirteen other 737s in Southwest's fleet
that carry a unique paint scheme: Arizona One, California One,
Illinois One, Lone Star One (Texas), Nevada One, New
Mexico One, Maryland One, three Shamu aircraft
(SeaWorld), Silver One (celebrating Southwest's 25th
anniversary), Triple Crown OneSlam Dunk One (tribute to our NBA
partnership).
(recognizing Southwest's top
rankings for ontime performance, baggage handling, and Customer
satisfaction), and
The newest aircraft in the Southwest Airlines fleet is truly a work
of labor and art, requiring 32 people at the Boeing Company working
three shifts over the course of eight days to paint. More than 46
gallons of paint and 16 different colors make up Florida One.
Southwest Airlines serves six airports in Florida, soon to be seven,
and the airline is the largest intra-state carrier in Florida, carrying
46 percent of all intra-Florida airline traffic. Southwest began service
in Florida in 1996, opening two cities on the same day: Ft.
Lauderdale/Hollywood and Tampa Bay. Orlando opened on April 7 of the
same year. Jacksonville followed in 1997; West Palm Beach in 2001, and
Ft. Myers/Naples in 2005.
