SEC Filings

coverpage8k.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): October 7, 2009

Southwest Airlines Co.

__________________________________________

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Texas	1-7259	74-1563240
_____________________	_____________	______________
(State or other jurisdiction	(Commission	(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)

P. O. Box 36611, Dallas, Texas	75235-1611
_________________________________	___________
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (214) 792-4000

Not Applicable

______________________________________________

Former name or former address, if changed since last report

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the

filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act

(17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17

CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the

Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the

Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On October 7, 2009, the Registrant issued a press release announcing its traffic results for September 2009. The press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.02.

The information furnished in this Item 2.02 shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits:

99.1 Registrant’s September 2009 Traffic Release.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

October 7, 2009	By	/s/ Laura Wright

		Laura Wright
		Chief Financial Officer
		(Principal Financial and
		Accounting Officer)

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description

99.1	Registrant's September 2009 Traffic Release.

ex99_1.htm

Exhibit 99.1

CONTACT: Investor Relations (214) 792-4415

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES REPORTS SEPTEMBER TRAFFIC

DALLAS, TEXAS – October 7, 2009 -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the Company flew 5.8 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in September 2009, an 8.8 percent increase from the 5.3 billion RPMs flown in September 2008. Available seat miles (ASMs) decreased 7.8 percent to 7.7 billion from the September 2008 level of 8.4 billion. The load factor for the month was 74.7 percent, compared to 63.4 percent for the same period last year. For September 2009, passenger revenue per ASM is estimated to have increased in the three percent range as compared to September 2008.

For the third quarter 2009, Southwest flew 19.7 billion RPMs, compared to the 18.8 billion RPMs recorded for the same period in 2008, an increase of 4.7 percent. Available seat miles decreased 5.8 percent to 24.8 billion from the third quarter 2008 level of 26.3 billion. The third quarter 2009 load factor was 79.6 percent, compared to 71.6 percent for the same period last year.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, Southwest flew 56.3 billion RPMs, compared to the 56.2 billion RPMs recorded for the same period in 2008, an increase of 0.1 percent. Available seat miles decreased 4.3 percent to 74.5 billion from the 2008 level of 77.8 billion. The year-to-date load factor was 75.6 percent, compared to 72.3 percent for the same period last year.

This press releases, as well as past releases on Southwest, are available online at southwest.com.

/more

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
PRELIMINARY COMPARATIVE TRAFFIC STATISTICS





	SEPTEMBER

	2009			2008			CHANGE


Revenue passengers carried		6,777,496			6,424,143			5.5	%

Enplaned passengers		7,950,437			7,353,011			8.1	%

Revenue passenger miles (000)		5,771,993			5,307,438			8.8	%

Available seat miles (000)		7,723,485			8,376,529			(7.8	)%

Load factor		74.7	%		63.4	%	11.3 pts.

Average length of haul		852			826			3.1	%

Trips flown		89,497			95,947			(6.7	)%



	THIRD QUARTER

		2009			2008		CHANGE


Revenue passengers carried		22,373,892			22,243,013			0.6	%

Enplaned passengers		26,396,360			25,686,181			2.8	%

Revenue passenger miles (000)		19,706,579			18,822,810			4.7	%

Available seat miles (000)		24,771,016			26,287,035			(5.8	)%

Load factor		79.6	%		71.6	%	8.0 pts.

Average length of haul		881			846			4.1	%

Trips flown		283,663			300,537			(5.6	)%



	YEAR-TO-DATE

		2009			2008		CHANGE


Revenue passengers carried		64,810,234			67,741,176			(4.3	)%

Enplaned passengers		75,951,788			77,945,753			(2.6	)%

Revenue passenger miles (000)		56,281,687			56,226,510			0.1	%

Available seat miles (000)		74,495,618			77,815,557			(4.3	)%

Load factor		75.6	%		72.3	%	3.3 pts.

Average length of haul		868			830			4.6	%

Trips flown		852,371			898,759			(5.2	)%

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