SWA & Bar Refaeli - Photo Gallery

Kyla Ebbert, meet Bar Refaeli.

We've got some striking photos of model Bar Refaeli, who adorns both the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue and the cover of a Boeing 737 flown by Southwest Airlines, including the one to the right taken by Richard Drew of Associated Press as Refaeli appeared Tuesday on NBC's Today Show.

We take note of this because it was about 19 months ago that a Southwest employee almost kicked San Diego resident Kyla Ebbert off a flight to Phoenix because her clothing was considered too immodest.

Ebbert later parlayed the unpleasant experience into some Playboy exposure. Refaeli got the SI exposure first, then the ride on Southwest.

Says Southwest's Christi Day on the airline's All about Southwest blog:

"Hello from LaGuardia Airport in New York City! I just witnessed one of the coolest plane events ever! We finally, after much speculation and anticipation, revealed the beautiful SI One. This plane, N922WN, is wrapped with a temporary decal featuring the cover model, from the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. This definitely seals the deals on Southwest Airlines' FUN and edgy factor!"

Also noteworthy is the photos are taken at New York LaGuardia Airport, a place that Southwest doesn't serve at present. It has a deal to buy landing and takeoff slots at the airport, though.

The first three photos are of Refaeli and/or the airplane. The last one also has Refaeli with two Southwest pilots, First Officer Steve Christl on the left, Capt. Mike Clemovitz on the right.