<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000092380-16-000177.txt : 20160204
<SEC-HEADER>0000092380-16-000177.hdr.sgml : 20160204
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160204174140
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000092380-16-000177
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20160128
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160204
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160204

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000092380
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	AIR TRANSPORTATION, SCHEDULED [4512]
		IRS NUMBER:				741563240
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2702 LOVE FIELD DR
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 36611
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75235
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2147924000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 36611
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75235-1611

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AIR SOUTHWEST CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19760108

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Shaw Mark R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001665653

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07259
		FILM NUMBER:		161389555

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2702 LOVE FIELD DRIVE
		STREET 2:		HDQ 4GC
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75235
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-01-28</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000092380</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LUV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001665653</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Shaw Mark R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2702 LOVE FIELD DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75235</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP,Gen Counsel,Corp.Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7768</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>789</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By ProfitSharing Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Holdings include 7,668 restricted stock units previously granted pursuant to the Southwest Airlines Co. Amended and Restated 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, which will entitle the reporting person to one share of common stock for each restricted stock unit that vests.  The restricted stock units will vest as follows: 528 on February 21, 2016; 752 on May 14, 2016; 1,162 on May 15, 2016; 1,668 on February 21, 2017; 752 on May 14, 2017; 1,667 on February 21, 2018; and 1,139 on February 21, 2019.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Holdings reflect exempt transactions under the Issuer's ProfitSharing Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Marilyn R. Post, on behalf of and as attorney-in-fact for Mark R. Shaw</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-02-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>powerofattorneyshaw.htm
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR MARK R. SHAW
<TEXT>
<HTML><BODY><PRE>POWER OF ATTORNEY



   Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby

constitutes and appoints each of Marilyn Post and Tim Whisler

signing singly, the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-

fact to:

(1) execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the

undersigned's capacity as an Officer and/or Director of

Southwest Airlines Co. (the "Company"), Forms 3, 4, and 5

in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange

Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder;

(2) do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of

the undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to

complete and execute any such Form 3, 4, or 5, complete and

execute any amendment or amendments thereto, and timely

file such form with the United States Securities and

Exchange Commission and any stock exchange or similar

authority; and

(3) take any other action of any type whatsoever in

connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such

attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best

interest of, or legally required by, the undersigned, it

being understood that the documents executed by such

attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to

this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall

contain such terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact

may approve in such attorney-in-fact's discretion.

   The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact

full power and authority to do and perform any and every act and

thing whatsoever requisite, necessary, or proper to be done in

the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as

fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or

could do if personally present, with full power of substitution

or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such

attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact's substitute or

substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of

this power of attorney and the rights and powers herein granted.

The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-

fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the

undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any

of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.



   This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect

until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4,

and 5 with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and

transactions in securities issued by the Company, unless earlier

revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the

foregoing attorneys-in-fact.



   IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of

Attorney to be executed as of this 3rd day of February 2016.



Signature: /s/ Mark R. Shaw



Print Name: Mark R. Shaw

</PRE></BODY></HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
