<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000092380-21-000003.txt : 20210209
<SEC-HEADER>0000092380-21-000003.hdr.sgml : 20210209
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210104140615
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000092380-21-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210104

FILER:

	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

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
<TEXT>
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<title>Document</title></head><body><div id="if0a152759c614796b29e025845877967_4"></div><div style="min-height:64.8pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">January 4, 2021</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">VIA EDGAR</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Division of Corporation Finance</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Office of Energy &#38; Transportation</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">100 F Street, NE</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Washington, D.C. 20549-3561</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Attention&#58;  Lauren Nguyen</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">RE&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Southwest Airlines Co.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:45pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2019</font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:45pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Filed February 4, 2020</font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:45pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">File No. 001-07259</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Dear Ms. Nguyen&#58;</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-right:36pt;text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">On behalf of Southwest Airlines Co. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;), set forth below are the Company&#8217;s responses to the comments of the staff (the &#8220;Staff&#8221;) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;Commission&#8221;) in its letter dated December 23, 2020, with respect to the Company&#8217;s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (the &#8220;Form 10-K&#8221;).  For ease of reference, we have reproduced below the full text of each of the Staff&#8217;s comments, which are followed by the Company&#8217;s responses.</font></div><div style="padding-right:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2019</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">General</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">1.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;padding-left:9pt">Please update the contact information on the cover of your periodic and current reports to include a working telephone number for your corporate office. Also provide us with direct contact information for a representative of your company to answer any questions we may have about your response to this letter.</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Response</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">&#58;</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Company&#8217;s periodic and current reports contain the contact information for the Company&#8217;s corporate offices. The main telephone number is (214) 792-4000. To reach the Operator, press &#8220;8.&#8221;  As noted below, if you have any questions about the Company&#8217;s response to this letter, please do not hesitate to contact Tammy Romo at (214) 792-3022.</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:64.8pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:64.8pt;width:100%"><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">January 4, 2021</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Page 2</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">2.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;padding-left:9pt">We note that your forum selection provision identifies the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas or, if such court lacks jurisdiction, the state district court of Dallas County, Texas as the exclusive forum for certain litigation, including any &#8220;derivative action.&#8221; Please disclose whether this provision applies to actions arising under the Securities Act or Exchange Act. If so, please also state that there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such provision.  In that regard, we note that Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Please also provide corresponding risk factor disclosure regarding the impact of your exclusive forum provision on stockholders, including that they may be subject to increased costs to bring a claim and that the provision could discourage claims or limit their ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that they find favorable. Further, if this provision does not apply to actions arising under the Securities Act or Exchange Act, please tell us how you will inform investors in future filings that the provision does not apply to any actions arising under the Securities Act or Exchange Act.</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-right:36pt;text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Response</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-right:36pt;text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;padding-right:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We acknowledge the Staff&#8217;s comment and advise the Staff that the forum selection provision in the Company&#8217;s Second Amended and Restated Bylaws (the &#8220;Bylaws&#8221;) does not apply to actions arising under the Securities Act and Exchange Act and will not preclude or contract the scope of exclusive federal or concurrent jurisdiction for actions brought under the federal securities laws. We propose to add the risk factor set forth below in future annual reports on Form 10-K to acknowledge that a forum selection provision could increase costs to bring a claim, discourage claims or limit the ability of the Company&#8217;s Shareholders to bring a claim in a judicial forum that they find favorable for disputes with the Company, its directors, officers or other employees.</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;padding-right:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;padding-right:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">The Company&#8217;s Bylaws provide to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law that the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas or, if such court lacks jurisdiction, the state district court of Dallas County, Texas, will be the exclusive forum for certain legal actions between the Company and its Shareholders, which could increase costs to bring a claim, discourage claims, or limit the ability of the Company&#8217;s Shareholders to bring a claim in a judicial forum viewed by the Shareholders as more favorable for disputes with the Company or the Company&#8217;s directors, officers, or other Employees.</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;padding-right:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;padding-right:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Company&#8217;s Bylaws provide to the fullest extent permitted by law that unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas or, if such court lacks jurisdiction, the state district court of Dallas County, Texas, will, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company&#59; (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, or </font></div><div style="height:64.8pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:64.8pt;width:100%"><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">January 4, 2021</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Page 3</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;padding-right:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">other Employee of the Company to the Company or the Company&#8217;s Shareholders&#59; (c) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director, officer, or other Employee of the Company pursuant to any provision of the Company&#8217;s Restated Certificate of Formation or the Bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time) or the Texas Business Organizations Code&#59; and (d) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director, officer, or other Employee of the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine. </font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;padding-right:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;padding-right:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The forum selection provision may increase costs to bring a claim, discourage claims, or limit a Shareholder&#8217;s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with the Company or the Company&#8217;s directors, officers, or other Employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against the Company or the Company&#8217;s directors, officers, and other Employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find the forum selection provision contained in the Company&#8217;s Bylaws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, the Company may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions. The exclusive forum provision in the Bylaws will not preclude or contract the scope of exclusive federal or concurrent jurisdiction for actions brought under the federal securities laws including the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or the Securities Act of 1933, or the respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. </font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">****</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-right:36pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Thank you for your assistance.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (214) 792-3022.</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;padding-right:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:216pt;padding-right:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="padding-left:216pt;padding-right:36pt;text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:216pt;padding-right:36pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Sincerely,</font></div><div style="padding-left:180pt;padding-right:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:180pt;padding-right:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:216pt;padding-right:36pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Tammy Romo&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;                  </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </font></div><div style="padding-left:216pt;padding-right:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Tammy Romo</font></div><div style="padding-left:216pt;padding-right:36pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Executive Vice President &#38; Chief</font></div><div style="padding-left:216pt;padding-right:36pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Financial Officer</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;padding-right:36pt;text-align:right;text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;padding-right:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Copy to&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;John T. Montford (Chairman, Audit Committee)</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Gary C. Kelly</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Leah Koontz</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Mark R. Shaw</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Bill Guess (Ernst &#38; Young LLP)</font></div><div style="padding-right:36pt;text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:64.8pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div></div></body></html>
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</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
