I’ve been flying on Southwest Airlines out of Kansas City since 1987, when I was in college at the University of Missouri.
I’d won a week-long trip to Chicago for a Direct Marketing Conference, but in the middle of that conference, I needed to be in Columbia, Missouri for a few hours for the Tap Day celebration.
Thanks to Southwest Airlines, flights from Chicago to Kansas City were about $60 round-trip, so I left the conference for a day and flew back to Kansas City.
Then I drove to Columbia, attended the all-important Mystical 7 unveiling activities at Tap Day, and then flew back to the conference.
I’ve been a loyal fan of Southwest ever since.
Which is why I was excited to see that the airline launched “Missouri One” today in Kansas City.
Southwest Airlines has offered flight service out of Kansas City since 1982. The airline celebrated its more than 30 years of service in the state of Missouri with the unveiling of its newest speciality Boeing 737-700, named Missouri One and emblazoned with an artist’s rendition of the Missouri state flag.
Southwest Airlines Chairman, President, and CEO Gary Kelly said, “Kansas City and St. Louis have been vital cities in our network for more than 30 years. I couldn’t think of a better way to ‘show’ our love to our Employees, Customers, and friends in the great state of Missouri than by dedicating this high-flying salute to them!“
Southwest also released this time-lapse video of the painting involved to create Missouri One, which is fun to watch.
Photo and video courtesy of Southwest Airlines.
Best of all, Southwest offered a fare sale running through April 17th featuring flights as low as $59 each way from Kansas City.
(Not quite as low as fares in 1987, but still a really inexpensive way to get from say Kansas City to Dallas, in just over an hour.)
Where would you like to fly next on Southwest Airlines? Please share in comments below.
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