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): October 7, 2011

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 October 7, 2011, the Registrant issued a press release announcing its traffic results for September 2011. 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 September 2011Traffic 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.

October 7, 2011	By	/s/ Laura Wright

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

Exhibit No.	Description

99.1	Registrant's September 2011 Traffic Release.

Ex 99.1

CONTACT: Investor Relations (214) 792-4415

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES REPORTS SEPTEMBER TRAFFIC

DALLAS, TEXAS – October 7, 2011 – Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today reported September 2011 combined traffic results for Southwest Airlines and AirTran. AirTran became a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co. (“the Company”) on May 2, 2011. For purposes of comparability, the Company is providing combined traffic results for Southwest Airlines and AirTran for periods prior to the acquisition date. See the accompanying tables for combined results.

The Company flew 7.9 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in September 2011, compared to 7.5 billion combined RPMs flown in September 2010, an increase of 6.4 percent. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 3.2 percent to 10.2 billion from the September 2010 combined level of 9.9 billion. The load factor for September 2011 was 77.8 percent, compared to the combined load factor of 75.5 percent in September 2010. For September 2011, passenger revenue per ASM (PRASM) is estimated to have increased approximately 12 percent as compared to September 2010’s combined PRASM.

For the third quarter 2011, the Company flew 27.3 billion RPMs, compared to 25.9 billion combined RPMs flown for the same period in 2010, an increase of 5.3 percent. Third quarter 2011 ASMs increased 4.7 percent to 33.3 billion, compared to the combined level of 31.8 billion for the same period in 2010. The third quarter 2011 load factor was 82.0 percent, compared to the combined load factor of 81.5 percent for the same period in 2010.

For the first nine months of 2011, the Company flew 78.7 billion combined RPMs, compared to 72.9 billion combined RPMs flown for the same period in 2010, an increase of 8.0 percent. The combined year-to-date ASMs increased 5.9 percent to 97.2 billion, compared to the combined level of 91.8 billion for the same period in 2010. The combined year-to-date load factor was 80.9 percent, compared to the combined load factor of 79.4 percent for the same period in 2010.

This release, as well as past news releases about Southwest Airlines Co., is available online at southwest.com.

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	SEPTEMBER

	2011			2010			CHANGE


Revenue passengers carried		8,547,211			8,340,000			2.5	%

Enplaned passengers		10,509,784			10,122,420			3.8	%

Revenue passenger miles (000)		7,929,112			7,451,999			6.4	%

Available seat miles (000)		10,185,530			9,868,119			3.2	%

Load factor		77.8	%		75.5	%	2.3		pts.

Average length of haul		928			894			3.8	%

Trips flown		112,156			110,493			1.5	%



	THIRD QUARTER

		2011			2010		CHANGE


Revenue passengers carried		28,208,036			27,966,582			0.9	%

Enplaned passengers		35,010,060			34,346,991			1.9	%

Revenue passenger miles (000)		27,322,289			25,938,073			5.3	%

Available seat miles (000)		33,318,088			31,819,149			4.7	%

Load factor		82.0	%		81.5	%	0.5		pts.

Average length of haul		969			927			4.5	%

Trips flown		359,630			352,087			2.1	%



	YEAR-TO-DATE

		2011			2010		CHANGE


Revenue passengers carried		82,615,444			80,275,161			2.9	%

Enplaned passengers		101,763,544			97,645,251			4.2	%

Revenue passenger miles (000)		78,683,982			72,883,801			8.0	%

Available seat miles (000)		97,220,639			91,834,163			5.9	%

Load factor		80.9	%		79.4	%	1.5		pts.

Average length of haul		952			908			4.8	%

Trips flown		1,055,888			1,026,229			2.9	%

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