Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV)
announced today that the Company flew 3.5 billion revenue passenger miles
(RPMs) in December 2000, a 14.8 percent increase from the 3.1 billion RPMs
flown in December 1999.  Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 11.7 percent to
5.3 billion from the December 1999 level of 4.7 billion.  The load factor for
the month was 66.5 percent, up 1.9 points from December 1999.
 
For the fourth quarter 2000, Southwest flew 10.8 billion RPMs, compared to
the 9.4 billion RPMs recorded for the same period of 1999, an increase of 15.9
percent.  Available seat miles increased 13.0 percent to 15.7 billion from the
fourth quarter 1999 level of 13.9 billion.  The fourth quarter 2000 load
factor was 69.0 percent, up 1.7 points from the same period last year.
 
For the year ended December 31, 2000, Southwest flew 42.2 billion RPMs,
compared with 36.5 billion RPMs recorded for the same period in 1999, an
increase of 15.7 percent.  Available seat miles increased 13.3 percent to 59.9
billion from the 1999 level of 52.9 billion.  The year-to-date load factor was
70.5 percent, up 1.5 points from the same period last year.
 
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