DALLAS, Oct. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today announced its flight schedule of new nonstop service between Florida and Cuba, bringing Southwest’s legendary low fares to a ninth country and a historic 100th destination. Service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Varadero, Cuba (VRA) is scheduled to begin Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, and Havana (HAV) service is scheduled to commence Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, from both FLL and Tampa International Airport (TPA), subject to requisite approvals of the Cuban government. Service details for Santa Clara, Cuba (SNU) are intended to be released in the coming weeks.

“Southwest Customers can book their tickets now to travel to Cuba with our low fares and no hidden fees, bags fly free^, and the best Employees in the industry,” said Gary Kelly, Southwest Airlines’ Chairman, President & CEO. “Cuba will be the ninth country on our route map and Havana will mark Southwest’s 100th city, a significant and proud milestone.”

In celebration of the new service, Southwest is offering a special fare of $59 one-way* on nonstop flights to and from Cuba (14-day advance purchase required, today through Nov. 20, 2016, 11:59 p.m. in the time zone of the originating city) for travel Nov. 13, 2016, through April 24, 2017). Please see below for valid travel days and complete terms & conditions. Check Southwest.com/Cuba for requirements regarding travel to Cuba and date-specific flight schedules for daily nonstop and other published connecting service.

“We’re continuing to invest in the Sunshine State with relevant service in all eight of our Florida airports to connect Southwest Customers to important things in their lives,” said Steve Goldberg, Southwest Airlines’ Vice President of Ground Operations, in announcing Cuba service details today at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. “Broward County’s state-of-the-art, five-gate international concourse scheduled to open here next summer, and to celebrate our new service, we sent out Southwest Employees to surprise Floridians with a gift to celebrate our 100th city.” Across both greater Fort Lauderdale and Tampa Bay, Southwest street teams surprised residents with $100 Southwest Gift Cards to spread awareness of the new routes. The carrier’s social media community followed the day’s events through hashtag #Southwest100.

See swamedia.com for b-roll video of street teams, executive interviews, as well the latest available data regarding Southwest’s economic impact in Florida.

The carrier continues to plan for available seat mile (ASM) growth in the 5-6 percent range in 2016.