Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the Company flew 4.7 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in September 2005, an 18.9 percent increase from the 4.0 billion RPMs flown in September 2004. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 11.5 percent to 7.0 billion from the September 2004 level of 6.3 billion. The load factor for the month was 67.4 percent, compared to 63.2 percent for the same period last year.

For the third quarter 2005, Southwest flew 16.4 billion RPMs, compared to the 14.2 billion RPMs recorded for the same period in 2004, an increase of 15.5 percent. Available seat miles increased 12.2 percent to 21.9 billion from the third quarter 2004 level of 19.5 billion. The third quarter 2005 load factor was 74.9 percent, compared to 72.7 percent for the same period last year.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, Southwest flew 45.1 billion RPMs, compared to the 40.3 billion RPMs recorded for the same period in 2004, an increase of 11.9 percent. Available seat miles increased 12.0 percent to 63.4 billion from the 2004 level of 56.6 billion. The year-to-date load factor was flat compared to last year at 71.1 percent.

This press release, as well as past releases on Southwest, are available online at http://www.southwest.com/jp/luvhome.shtml?src=IR_100405

                            SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
                       PRELIMINARY COMPARATIVE TRAFFIC
                                  STATISTICS

                                                  SEPTEMBER

                                        2005         2004       CHANGE

    Revenue passengers carried       6,179,331    5,387,967     14.7 %

    Enplaned passengers              6,986,830    6,124,253     14.1 %

    Revenue passenger miles (000)    4,734,386    3,980,901     18.9 %

    Available seat miles (000)       7,021,873    6,297,706     11.5 %

    Load factor                          67.4%        63.2%    4.2 pts.

    Average length of haul                 766          739      3.7 %

    Trips flown                         83,645       80,346      4.1 %


                                                THIRD QUARTER

                                        2005         2004       CHANGE

    Revenue passengers carried      20,638,766   18,334,448     12.6 %

    Enplaned passengers             23,596,453   21,102,752     11.8 %

    Revenue passenger miles (000)   16,365,695   14,164,101     15.5 %

    Available seat miles (000)      21,853,982   19,486,103     12.2 %

    Load factor                          74.9%        72.7%    2.2 pts.

    Average length of haul                 793          773      2.6 %

    Trips flown                        261,821      248,981      5.2 %


                                                 YEAR-TO-DATE

                                        2005           2004     CHANGE

    Revenue passengers carried      58,209,680     53,193,484    9.4 %

    Enplaned passengers             66,154,859     60,921,204    8.6 %

    Revenue passenger miles (000)   45,084,013     40,282,260   11.9 %

    Available seat miles (000)      63,424,509     56,641,218   12.0 %

    Load factor                          71.1%          71.1%    ---

    Average length of haul                 775            757    2.4 %

    Trips flown                        769,271        729,836    5.4 %

SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.
10/04/2005

CONTACT: Investor Relations of Southwest Airlines Co., 1-214-792-4415

6353 10/04/2005 08:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com