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): January 8, 2010

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 January 8, 2010, the Registrant issued a press release announcing its traffic results for December 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 December 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.

January 8, 2010	By	/s/ Laura Wright

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

Exhibit No.	Description

99.1	Registrant's December 2009 Traffic Release.

Ex 99.1

CONTACT: Investor Relations (214) 792-4415

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES REPORTS DECEMBER TRAFFIC

DALLAS, TEXAS – January 8, 2010 -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the Company flew 6.0 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in December 2009, a 3.0 percent increase from the 5.8 billion RPMs flown in December 2008. Available seat miles (ASMs) decreased 5.8 percent to 7.8 billion from the December 2008 level of 8.3 billion. The load factor for the month was 76.2 percent, compared to 69.7 percent for the same period last year. For December 2009, passenger revenue per ASM is estimated to have increased in the seven percent range as compared to December 2008.

For the fourth quarter 2009, Southwest flew 18.2 billion RPMs, compared to 17.3 billion RPMs for the same period in 2008, an increase of 5.3 percent. Available seat miles decreased 7.7 percent to 23.5 billion from the fourth quarter 2008 level of 25.5 billion. The fourth quarter 2009 load factor was 77.3 percent, compared to 67.8 percent for the same period last year.

For the year ended December 31, 2009, Southwest flew 74.5 billion RPMs, compared to 73.5 billion RPMs for the same period in 2008, an increase of 1.3 percent. Available seat miles decreased 5.1 percent to 98.0 billion from the 2008 level of 103.3 billion. The year-to-date load factor was 76.0 percent, compared to 71.2 percent for the same period last year.

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

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SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
PRELIMINARY COMPARATIVE TRAFFIC STATISTICS





	DECEMBER

	2009			2008			CHANGE


Revenue passengers carried		7,032,357			6,778,951			3.7	%

Enplaned passengers		8,354,947			7,964,829			4.9	%

Revenue passenger miles (000s)		5,970,666			5,794,390			3.0	%

Available seat miles (000s)		7,832,819			8,318,347			(5.8	)%

Load factor		76.2	%		69.7	%	6.5 pts.

Average length of haul		849			855			(0.7	)%

Trips flown		90,784			95,813			(5.2	)%



	FOURTH QUARTER

		2009			2008		CHANGE


Revenue passengers carried		21,493,912			20,788,058			3.4	%

Enplaned passengers		25,386,440			23,974,845			5.9	%

Revenue passenger miles (000s)		18,175,033			17,265,177			5.3	%

Available seat miles (000s)		23,506,003			25,455,786			(7.7	)%

Load factor		77.3	%		67.8	%	9.5 pts.

Average length of haul		846			831			1.8	%

Trips flown		272,740			292,392			(6.7	)%



	YEAR-TO-DATE

		2009			2008		CHANGE


Revenue passengers carried		86,305,366			88,529,234			(2.5	)%

Enplaned passengers		101,338,228			101,920,598			(0.6	)%

Revenue passenger miles (000s)		74,456,719			73,491,687			1.3	%

Available seat miles (000s)		98,001,621			103,271,343			(5.1	)%

Load factor		76.0	%		71.2	%	4.8 pts.

Average length of haul		863			830			4.0	%

Trips flown		1,125,111			1,191,151			(5.5	)%

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