coverpage8k.htm

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): July 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

______________________________________________

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

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

[ ] 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 July 7, 2009, the Registrant issued a press release announcing its traffic results for June 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.

99.1 Registrant’s June 2009 Traffic Release.

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.

July 7, 2009	By	/s/ Laura Wright

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

Exhibit No.	Description

99.1	Registrant's June 2009 Traffic Release.

Exhibit 99.1

CONTACT: Investor Relations (214) 792-4415

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES REPORTS JUNE TRAFFIC

DALLAS, TEXAS – July 7, 2009 -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the Company flew 6.7 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in June 2009, a 2.1 percent decrease from the 6.9 billion RPMs flown in June 2008. Available seat miles (ASMs) decreased 3.8 percent to 8.5 billion from the June 2008 level of 8.8 billion. The load factor for the month was 79.5 percent, compared to 78.2 percent for the same period last year. For June 2009, passenger revenue per ASM is estimated to have decreased in the nine to ten percent range as compared to June 2008.

For the second quarter 2009, Southwest flew 19.7 billion RPMs, compared to the 19.8 billion RPMs recorded for the same period in 2008, a decrease of 0.6 percent. Available seat miles decreased 3.0 percent to 25.6 billion from the second quarter 2008 level of 26.3 billion. The second quarter 2009 load factor was 77.0 percent, compared to 75.2 percent for the same period last year.

For the first half of 2009, Southwest flew 36.6 billion RPMs, compared to the 37.4 billion RPMs recorded for the same period in 2008, a decrease of 2.2 percent. Available seat miles decreased 3.5 percent to 49.7 billion from the 2008 level of 51.5 billion. The year-to-date load factor was 73.6 percent, compared to 72.6 percent for the same period last year.

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

/more

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
PRELIMINARY COMPARATIVE TRAFFIC STATISTICS





	JUNE

	2009			2008			CHANGE


Revenue passengers carried		7,658,376			8,183,009			(6.4	)%

Enplaned passengers		9,005,109			9,451,725			(4.7	)%

Revenue passenger miles (000)		6,731,254			6,877,502			(2.1	)%

Available seat miles (000)		8,464,466			8,795,517			(3.8	)%

Load factor		79.5	%		78.2	%	1.3		pts.

Average length of haul		879			840			4.6	%

Trips flown		95,843			100,831			(4.9	)%



	SECOND QUARTER

	2009			2008			CHANGE


Revenue passengers carried		22,676,171			23,993,342			(5.5	)%

Enplaned passengers		26,505,438			27,550,957			(3.8	)%

Revenue passenger miles (000)		19,683,479			19,811,541			(0.6	)%

Available seat miles (000)		25,552,927			26,335,085			(3.0	)%

Load factor		77.0	%		75.2	%	1.8		pts.

Average length of haul		868			826			5.1	%

Trips flown		289,573			303,432			(4.6	)%



	YEAR-TO-DATE

	2009			2008			CHANGE


Revenue passengers carried		42,435,860			45,498,163			(6.7	)%

Enplaned passengers		49,555,428			52,259,572			(5.2	)%

Revenue passenger miles (000)		36,575,108			37,403,700			(2.2	)%

Available seat miles (000)		49,724,602			51,528,522			(3.5	)%

Load factor		73.6	%		72.6	%	1.0		pts.

Average length of haul		862			822			4.9	%

Trips flown		568,708			598,222			(4.9	)%

***