Southwest Airlines is celebrating three decades of service to the great city of Las Vegas. Service to the market began in 1982 as the 15th city to join Southwest’s route map. To commemorate the 30-year commitment and the airline’s now second largest city, Southwest is hosting an anniversary celebration in partnership with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and McCarran International Airport.
“Today Southwest celebrates a commitment that has turned into a 30-year partnership with the Las Vegas community. We attribute our success in the market to our long-standing relationships with the McCarran International Airport and the city of Las Vegas, and of course, our loyal Customers who keep our Las Vegas flights full,” says Southwest Airlines Senior Vice President of Procurement Daryl Krause. “This is a proud milestone for Southwest Airlines and the more than 2,500 Las Vegas-based Employees that run our operation of nearly 200 flights per day safely and efficiently all year round.”
Southwest Employees from all over the country are in Vegas to celebrate and appreciate the local Employees and Customers, and earlier today, LVCVA President and CEO Rossi Ralenkotter and Director of Aviation Randall H. Walker kicked off Southwest’s 30th Anniversary Celebration with a news conference. “Last year, nearly 16 million travelers came to Las Vegas by way of Southwest Airlines. That’s nearly 40 percent of McCarran’s overall passenger traffic,” said Clark County Director of Aviation Randall H. Walker. “Southwest’s presence in Las Vegas has had a significant impact on our local economy, and has also proven popular among local residents.”
“Southwest Airlines has been a tremendous partner for three decades,” said LVCVA President and CEO Rossi Ralenkotter. “Combining the brands of Southwest and Las Vegas is a winning combination that has proven itself time and again.”
Southwest recognized two Las Vegas-based 30-year Employees and awarded the Southwest Airlines Las Vegas Pilot Base with the ACE Base Award. The award was presented to the Las Vegas-based Pilots for having the highest participation in the airline’s Adopt-A-Pilot program, which pairs Pilots with fifth grade classrooms to educate children through aviation-based activities. LVCVA host Committee Chair and former Mayor of Las Vegas, Oscar Goodman, concluded the event with a toast to the next 30 years.
Southwest is celebrating this milestone anniversary with Customers nationwide by launching the Venture to Vegas Twitter Contest. The contest gives @SouthwestAir Twitter followers a chance to answer Vegas-themed riddles presented by the airline by submitting a photo answering that riddle for a chance to win a Vegas Vacation Getaway, complete with hotel and airfare. For more details and contest rules visits www.blogsouthwest.com.
Southwest Airlines, www.southwest.com; Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, www.lvcva.com