• by Tanya Gazdik , May 12, 2011

Southwest Airlines is celebrating its 40th anniversary by teaming with SeaWorld for a promotion that will award 40 trips in 40 days.

The promotion also highlights SeaWorld's new Shamu show, "One Ocean."

Each prize will include the following for a family of four: tickets to the winner's SeaWorld of choice, hotel accommodations in that city, and round-trip tickets on Southwest Airlines. People can enter at www.southwest.com/oneocean.

In addition, Southwest is offering special anniversary deals in Orlando, San Antonio, and San Diego, including 40% off hotels, $40 off Avis car rentals, fourth night free on vacation packages, and adult tickets at kid prices to all three SeaWorld parks.

To kick off the promotion on Thursday, Southwest and SeaWorld employees and customers welcomed SeaWorld's penguins, Pete and Penny, at San Antonio International Airport. Southwest customers were greeted by this pair of Magellanic penguins, along with a lemur and a wallaby, and were able to take photos with the animals while chatting with the trainers. SeaWorld also gave away park specific admission tickets at the gates.

In addition to the new "One Ocean" whale show, this summer SeaWorld San Diego also debuts Turtle Reef -- an attraction that will allow guests to get an up-close look at 60 threatened or endangered sea turtles, as well as learn more about the threats sea turtles face in the wild.

The attraction will also feature thousands of tropical fish, and a new ride that takes passengers on an exciting rescue mission of their own. The focal point of Turtle Reef is a nearly 300,000-gallon aquarium with a massive underwater viewing gallery.

As part of its 40th anniversary celebration, Southwest will return and sponsor the "World's Greatest Aviation Celebration" this July in Oshkosh, Wis. More than a half-million people are expected at this year's weeklong celebration of all-things aviation in Central Wisconsin.

Southwest's special participation will include a recognition and honor of military veterans, educational opportunities for young aviators, and a chance to view a Southwest aircraft as few have seen one, and will build to a "Super Saturday" presented by Southwest Airlines, featuring a nighttime air show, fireworks, and concert.

In addition, Southwest is sponsoring a sweepstakes to provide one winner with round-trip air travel to Milwaukee for two, one-day's admission to AirVenture for two, and a two-night hotel stay. Rules and an online entry form are available at southwest.com/oshkosh.