News Releases

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Southwest Airlines and WestJet take the next step toward code-sharing
arrangement
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CALGARY, Dec. 16 /CNW/ - Southwest Airlines today will offer Customers
the ability to book flights to Canada on WestJet via a convenient online link
to WestJet's booking portal on southwest.com. The two airlines previously
announced they will eventually enter a code-sharing arrangement that will
allow the carriers to offer Customers a seamless travel experience to a wide
array of destinations. While the airlines plan to announce code-sharing flight
schedules by late 2009, the availability of WestJet flights via the link on
southwest.com is an important first step forward in the relationship.
Southwest Airlines does not offer service to Canada itself.
The link for Southwest Customers to book travel and learn more about
WestJet's service, policies, procedures, as well as frequently asked
questions, is located at http://www.southwest.com/cgi-bin/canadaTab. To view a
blog post from Southwest's Vice-President of Marketing, Sales and
Distribution, Kevin Krone, talking about this enhancement, visit
http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/southwestcom-now-offers-a-link-westjet. "The
ability to offer Customers the option to book WestJet flights via the link on
southwest.com is an excellent way to move our code-sharing arrangement
forward," Krone said. "This advancement will lay the foundation for the
eventual Southwest-WestJet code-share by introducing our customers to
WestJet's brand and breadth of service."
"This is a very important step in the growth of WestJet and in our
relationship with Southwest Airlines," said Duncan Bureau, Vice-President of
Sales and Airline Partnerships for WestJet. "With the launch of this
distribution arrangement, Southwest Customers will have the opportunity to
book WestJet flights to Canada via one of the most popular airline websites in
the world."

About WestJet

WestJet is Canada's leading high-value low-cost airline offering
scheduled service throughout its 51-city North American and Caribbean network.
Named one of Canada's most admired corporate cultures in 2005, 2006, 2007 and
2008, WestJet pioneered low-cost flying in Canada. WestJet offers increased
legroom and leather seats on its modern fleet of 76 Boeing Next-Generation 737
aircraft, and live seatback television provided by Bell TV. With future
confirmed deliveries for an additional 45 aircraft, bringing its fleet to 121
by 2013, WestJet strives to be the number one choice for travellers.

About Southwest Airlines

After 37 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation's leading
low-fare carrier, continues to stand above other airlines - offering a
reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the
most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable
traveling experience with all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom.
Southwest recently updated its gate areas and improved its boarding procedure
to make flying Southwest Airlines even more convenient and simple. Southwest
Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic
passengers enplaned, currently serves 64 cities (will begin service to
Minneapolis-St. Paul in March 2009) in 32 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest
currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has more than 35,000
Employees systemwide.

This news release contains forward-looking statements related to
WestJet's intention to offer services in connection with its planned
code-sharing alliance with Southwest. Specific statements relate to the
anticipated impact of such alliance on WestJet's routes, fares, and guest
experience. These forward-looking statements are based on WestJet's current
intent, beliefs, and expectations and are not guarantees of future results.
These statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors
that could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or
indicated by them. Factors include, among others, (i) the company's ability to
negotiate mutually agreeable code-sharing terms and their receipt of necessary
governmental approvals, (ii) consumer interest in, and demand for, the
combined offering; (iii) the impact of competitive offerings; and (iv)
economic and related uncertainties that could impact the ability of the two
companies to fully implement all of the initiatives currently contemplated by
their alliance.