8-K

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): January 11, 2016

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 2.02Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On January 11, 2016, the Registrant issued a press release announcing its traffic results for December 2015. 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 December 2015 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.
January 11, 2016	By	/s/ Tammy Romo
		Tammy Romo
		Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
		(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Registrant's December 2015 Traffic Release.

EX-99.1

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES REPORTS DECEMBER TRAFFIC

DALLAS, TEXAS – January 11, 2016 – Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) (the "Company") today reported its December, fourth quarter, and total year preliminary traffic statistics. The Company flew 10.0 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in December 2015, an increase of 8.6 percent from the 9.2 billion RPMs flown in December 2014. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 8.3 percent to 12.1 billion in December 2015, compared with December 2014 ASMs of 11.2 billion. The December 2015 load factor was a record for the month of December at 83.0 percent, compared with 82.7 percent in December 2014.

For fourth quarter2015, the Company flew 29.7 billion RPMs, an increase of 11.1 percent from the 26.8 billion RPMs flown in fourth quarter2014. Fourth quarter2015 ASMs increased 8.4 percent to 35.4 billion, compared with fourth quarter2014 ASMs of 32.6 billion. The fourth quarter2015 load factor was a fourth quarter record at 84.0 percent, compared with 82.0 percent in fourth quarter 2014. The Company continues to estimate its fourth quarter 2015 operating revenue per ASM (RASM) will be approximately flat to down 1.0 percent, compared with fourth quarter 2014.

For 2015, the Company flew 117.5 billion RPMs, an increase of 8.8 percent from the 108.0 billion RPMs flown in 2014. For 2015, ASMs increased 7.3 percent to 140.5 billion, compared with 131.0 billion in 2014. The 2015 load factor was an annual record at 83.6 percent, compared with 82.5 percent in 2014.

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

/more

Southwest Airlines Co.

Preliminary Comparative Traffic Statistics

DECEMBER
	2015	2014	Change
Revenue passengers carried	10,105,907	9,594,370	5.3%
Enplaned passengers	12,371,034	11,666,424	6.0%
Revenue passenger miles (000s)	10,020,969	9,224,382	8.6%
Available seat miles (000s)	12,072,508	11,151,720	8.3%
Load factor	83.0%	82.7%	0.3 pts.
Average length of haul	992	961	3.2%
Trips flown	108,208	104,550	3.5%

FOURTH QUARTER
	2015	2014	Change
Revenue passengers carried	30,368,454	27,894,107	8.9%
Enplaned passengers	37,039,737	34,065,219	8.7%
Revenue passenger miles (000s)	29,727,972	26,767,655	11.1%
Available seat miles (000s)	35,378,679	32,647,338	8.4%
Load factor	84.0%	82.0%	2.0 pts.
Average length of haul	979	960	2.0%
Trips flown	319,178	309,271	3.2%

TOTAL YEAR
	2015	2014	Change
Revenue passengers carried	118,171,211	110,496,912	6.9%
Enplaned passengers	144,574,882	135,767,188	6.5%
Revenue passenger miles (000s)	117,499,879	108,035,133	8.8%
Available seat miles (000s)	140,512,514	131,003,957	7.3%
Load factor	83.6%	82.5%	1.1 pts.
Average length of haul	994	978	1.6%
Trips flown	1,267,358	1,255,502	0.9%

Investor Contact:

Southwest Airlines Investor Relations

214-792-4415

Media Contact:

Southwest Airlines Media Relations

214-792-4847

swamedia@wnco.com

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