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  <TITLE> Southwest Airlines Co. (Form: 8-K) </TITLE>
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  		UNITED STATES<BR>
  	SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
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  	WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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  	FORM 8-K
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  	CURRENT REPORT
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  	Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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  	Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):
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  	&nbsp;
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  	May 17, 2006
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  	Southwest Airlines Co.
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  <BR>__________________________________________<BR>
  	(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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  	Texas
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  	1-7259
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  	74-1563240
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  _____________________<BR>
  	(State or other jurisdiction
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  _____________<BR>
  	(Commission
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  ______________<BR>
  	(I.R.S. Employer
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  	of incorporation)
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  	File Number)
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  	Identification No.)
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  	&nbsp;&nbsp;
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  	P. O. Box 36611, Dallas, Texas
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  	75235-1611
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  _________________________________<BR>
  	(Address of principal executive offices)
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  	&nbsp;
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  ___________<BR>
  	(Zip Code)
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  	Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code:
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  	(214) 792-4000
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  	Not Applicable
  <BR>______________________________________________<BR>
  	Former name or former address, if changed since last report
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  	&nbsp;
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  <!-- CoverPageRegistrant END --><P><FONT SIZE="2">
  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:</FONT>
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  [&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)<br>
  [&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)<br>
  [&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))<br>
  [&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))<br>
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  	Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.
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  On May 17, 2006, Rollin W. King and June M. Morris retired from the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the Bylaws of the Company, which provide for a mandatory retirement age of 75 for members of the Board of Directors other than the Chairman of the Board.  Mr. King had served on the Company's Board since 1967 and Mrs. Morris had served on the Board since 1994.
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  	SIGNATURES
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  	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.
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  	Southwest Airlines Co.
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  	&nbsp;&nbsp;
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  <I>
  	May 18, 2006
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  	By:
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  <I>
  	Deborah Ackerman
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  <I>
  	Name: Deborah Ackerman
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  	Title: Vice President-General Counsel
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metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "htm_12589.htm", "description": "LIVE FILING", "secsgml_size_bytes": 8637}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO", "cik": "0000092380", "assigned-sic": "4512", "irs-number": "741563240", "state-of-incorporation": "TX", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-07259", "film-number": "06851070"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2702 LOVE FIELD DR", "street2": "P O BOX 36611", "city": "DALLAS", "state": "TX", "zip": "75235", "phone": "2147924000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "PO BOX 36611", "city": "DALLAS", "state": "TX", "zip": "75235-1611"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "AIR SOUTHWEST CO", "date-changed": "19760108"}}
text: Southwest Airlines Co. (Form: 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):
  May 17, 2006
  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))
  Top of the Form
  Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.
  On May 17, 2006, Rollin W. King and June M. Morris retired from the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the Bylaws of the Company, which provide for a mandatory retirement age of 75 for members of the Board of Directors other than the Chairman of the Board.  Mr. King had served on the Company's Board since 1967 and Mrs. Morris had served on the Board since 1994.
  Top of the Form
  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.
  May 18, 2006
  By:
  Deborah Ackerman
  Name: Deborah Ackerman
  Title: Vice President-General Counsel