1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Net Margin
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
10.0%
11.1%
9.2%
4.4%
7.4%
6.8%
15.8%
0.5
pts.
83.4%
3.0
pts.
80.6%
80.0%
14.2%
3.6
pts.
12.5%
4.2%
5.6%
4.2%
0.9
pts.
1.7%
3.1%
2.6%
3.5%
Operating expenses
Operating income
Operating margin
Net income
Net margin
Net income per share – basic
Net income per share – diluted
Stockholders’ equity
Revenue passengers carried
Revenue passenger miles {RPMs} (000s)
Available seat miles {ASMs} (000s)
Passenger load factor
Passenger revenue yield per RPM
Operating revenue yield per ASM
Operating expenses per ASM
Size of fleet at yearend
(2.5)%
Number of Employees at yearend
Stockholders’ equity per common share outstanding
Return on average stockholders’ equity
CONSOLIDATED HIGHLIGHTS
Operating revenues
7.5%
CHANGE
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
$5,454
$483
8.1%
$442
7.4%
$.56
$.54
$5,052
9.3%
$6.40
65,673,945
47,943,066
71,790,425
66.8%
11.97¢
8.27¢
7.60¢
388
32,847
$5,937
2003
$5,105
$417
7.6%
$241
4.4%
$.31
$.30
$4,422
5.7%
$5.69
63,045,988
45,391,903
68,886,546
65.9%
11.77¢
8.0 2 ¢
7.41¢
375
33,705
$5,522
2002
Southwest Airlines Co. is the nation’s low-fare, high Customer Satisfaction airline. We primarily serve short- and medium-haul
city pairs, providing single-class air transportation which targets business and leisure travelers. The Company, incorporated
in Texas, commenced Customer Service on June 18, 1971, with three Boeing 737 aircraft serving three Texas cities – Dallas,
Houston, and San Antonio. At yearend 2003, Southwest operated 388 Boeing 737 aircraft and provided service to 59 airports in
30 states throughout the United States. Southwest has one of the lowest operating cost structures in the domestic airline
industry and consistently offers the lowest and simplest fares. Southwest also has one of the best overall Customer Service
records. LUV is our stock exchange symbol, selected to represent our home at Dallas Love Field, as well as the theme of our
Employee and Customer relationships.
1999
2000
2001
2002
$.80
$.70
$.60
$.50
$.40
$.30
$.59
$.79*
$.63
$.30
2003
$.54
Net Income Per Share, Diluted
Excludes cumulative effect of change
in accounting principle of $.03.
*
1999
2000 2001
2002
Return On Stockholders’ Equity
20%
15%
10%
5%
18.1%
19.9%
13.7%
5.7%
2003
9.3%
FREEDOM
Americans didn’t just invent the airplane, we invented the airline as well. Back in 1914, a
few bold travelers flew on the Airboat Line between Tampa and St. Petersburg. Today,
Southwest Airlines gives Americans the freedom to fly from coast to coast, including
Tampa/St. Petersburg. In February 2003, Southwest was named the Most Admired
Airline for the second straight year in
FORTUNE magazine. In June, we announced
that our current and future f leet of Boeing 737-700s will be outfitted with fuel-saving,
performance-enhancing Blended Winglets. In August, the Bureau of Transportation
Statistics announced that Southwest carried more domestic originating passengers
in May than any other airline, marking the first time a low-fare airline has topped those
monthly rankings. In October 2003, we announced service, beginning in May 2004, to
Philadelphia, the city that freedom built. As we look back on our 31st consecutive profitable
year, we are once again proud to say, “You are now free to move about the country.™”
2
Southwest Airlines Co. 2003 Annual Report
To Our Shareholders:
Just as promised in our 2002 Annual Report, in the year 2003
Southwest Airlines kept “MOVING AHEAD.”
While the airline industry, as a whole, reported more than
$5 billion (excluding special items) in 2003 losses:
1. Southwest produced its 31st consecutive year of profitability, an
airline industry record that has also generated unprecedented
airline industry job security and exceptional Profitsharing for our
marvelous Employees, as well as exceptional investment returns
for our Shareholders, including Employee-Shareholders.
2. Southwest’s annual profits increased from $198 million in 2002,
excluding special items ($241 million, including special items), to
$298 million, excluding special items ($442 million including special
items, such as industrywide government war relief grants).
3. Southwest expanded its fleet by a net of 13 new 737-700s and
increased our Available Seat Miles by 4.2 percent.
4. Southwest continued to equip our new aircraft deliveries, and to
refurbish our existing fleet, with our fresh and most attractive
Canyon Blue aircraft livery; all leather interiors in Canyon Blue
and Saddle Tan; new design seats affording superb personal
comfort; and aesthetic Blended Winglets, which improve aircraft
performance by extending range, saving fuel, and reducing
engine maintenance costs and takeoff noise.
5. Southwest retained its leadership in Customer Satisfaction, again
receiving the fewest Customer complaints per 100,000 Customers
carried, as reflected in DOT statistics compiled from reports
furnished to DOT by the largest domestic air carriers.
6. Southwest was selected: In
FORTUNE magazine, as one of
our nation’s Most Admired Companies • In Business Ethics
magazine’s listing of the “100 Best Corporate Citizens” in America
•InHISPANIC magazine’s listing of the “2003 Hispanic
Corporate 100” • The “Best Low Cost Airline” at the 2003
Official Airline Guide Airline of the Year awards • By AirTransport
World magazine as its “Airline of the Year” • By Inside Flyer
magazine as having the Best Customer Service, Best Bonus
Promotion, and Best Award Redemption of any frequent flyer
program (Southwest’s Rapid Rewards) • As featured airline in
the A&E Network series
AIRLINE •ForGlobal Finance
magazine’s “Experts’ List of the World’s Most Socially
Responsible Companies.”
We intend to keep “MOVING FUR
THER AHEAD” in
2004, expanding our fleet by a net of 29 new 737-700s and our
Available Seat Miles by almost eight percent, while utilizing
our proportionally unsurpassed financial strength ($1.87 billion
in cash and an unsecured revolving credit line of $575 million at
yearend 2003), continued low costs per Available Seat Mile, leading
Customer Satisfaction record, and superb Employee esprit de
corps to prevail over the 2004 uncertainties with respect to: fuel
price levels (we are over 80 percent hedged for the year with prices
capped at approximately $24 per barrel of crude oil); the rate of
U.S. economic recovery and attendant expansion of Customer
demand; a potential substantial expansion in capacity by competitive
air carriers; and any exogenous events adversely affecting the
domestic airline industry.
In May of 2004, we will commence air service to Philadelphia,
the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. not now served, directly or
indirectly, by Southwest. We have also announced that in light of
Southwest’s strong cash position, investment-grade balance sheet,
and desire to maximize Employee-Shareholder and non-Employee-
Shareholder value that Southwest intends to use the very significant
present and anticipated proceeds from the exercise of our
outstanding stock options for the repurchase, from time to time,
of up to $300 million of our common stock in the open market.
For more than three decades, the wisdom, farsightedness,
goodwill, and camaraderie of our People have produced a remarkable
airline providing remarkable psychic and financial rewards for all of our
Employees. We thank them for their understanding and their goodness,
which have produced greatness for Southwest and for them.
January 20, 2004
Most sincerely,
3
Southwest Airlines Co. 2003 Annual Report
Herbert D. Kelleher,
Chairman of the Board
Herb was named to Secretary of
Homeland Security Tom Ridge’s
advisory panel in 2003.
James F. Parker,
Vice Chairman & CEO
Jim was named one of two “Business
People of the Year” by
Dallas Business
Journal
; the other was Colleen Barrett.
Colleen C. Barrett,
President & COO
Colleen was named one of the
“50 Most Powerful Women in Business” by
FORTUNE magazine two years running.
4
Southwest Airlines Co. 2003 Annual Report
SPREADING
OUR WINGS
In June 2003, Southwest Airlines announced that our current and future fleet of Boeing 737-700s
will be outfitted with fuel-saving, performance-enhancing Blended Winglets. We unveiled
the fleet’s first jet with winglets in ceremonies in Austin, Dallas, and Houston — representing
our original “Texas Triangle” destinations in 1971. These sleek, colorful appendages on
the wings of our handsome Canyon Blue jets give the fleet a distinctive, technologically
advanced look and feel.
5
Southwest Airlines Co. 2003 Annual Report
2003 proved to be another perilous year for the airline industry.
With the Iraq war, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a
weak economy, high energy costs, and terrorism-related concerns,
the major airlines continue to report billions in losses and struggle
for survival. Since September 11, 2001, major airlines have cut
capacity, slashed jobs, and scrambled to reduce their costs to
avoid bankruptcy and compete in an industry that is forever
changed. Two major airlines have already filed bankruptcy, and
other smaller carriers have ceased operations entirely.
As a result of the dire financial condition of our major
airline competitors, exacerbated by the war in Iraq, the government
provided substantial cash payments to the airline industry
under the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations
Act. The government also waived the requirement that security
fees be collected on airline tickets issued from June 1 to
September 30, 2003.
Despite these difficult challenges, we reported our 31st
consecutive annual profit in 2003 because of our low operating
costs and superb People. Southwest’s long profitability record is
unmatched in the airline industry, and we are also the only major
airline to post a profit in every quarter following the September 11
terrorist attacks. While the airline industry, as a whole, reported
losses for the third straight year in 2003, our profits were up
significantly from 2002, even excluding the favorable impact from
the $271 million federal grant.
Because we were financially prepared, we were able to
persevere through these difficult times and build a stronger
Southwest. Instead of significant capacity reductions, Southwest
invested in our future. We took care of our People, providing pay
rate increases and Profitsharing rather than furloughs and wage
concessions. We added airplanes, expanded airports, and invested
in facilities, equipment, and automation to enhance our Customers’
experience and prepare us for future growth.
Although we cannot predict what external, uncontrollable
events could impact us in 2004, it seems that the worst could finally
be behind us. The downward revenue trends prior to and shortly
following the Iraq war have improved, albeit gradually. Although
the industry has planned for significant capacity increases in 2004,
we are confident in our future and believe we are uniquely
positioned for growth.
Low Costs
Historically, Southwest has enjoyed a significant cost advantage
compared to the “legacy” carriers. That advantage has been somewhat
diminished as those carriers have reduced their labor costs and
improved their work rules through either voluntary concessions or
the bankruptcy process. In addition, there are now a number of
new, rapidly growing carriers with costs roughly comparable to
those of Southwest Airlines.
The Employees of Southwest have always understood that we
are profitable, growing, and successful because of our competitive
cost advantage. Although our costs remain low, we are not satisfied
with the inflation we began to experience in our cost structure
during second half 2003 and are aggressively implementing various
measures to improve our productivity. Effective December 15, 2003,
Southwest no longer pays a commission on flights booked by
traditional travel agencies, which will reduce operating costs by
approximately $40 million annually. In February 2004, we will
consolidate our reservations operations from nine into six
Reservations Centers. We will incur restructuring charges of an
estimated $20 million in first quarter 2004 and expect ongoing cost
savings to exceed that amount each year. As a result of these and
many other measures, cost pressures should ease in second half
2004. Our Employees are motivated and innovative, and we are
confident that our People will continue to find and embrace faster
and better ways of running our business.
While a lot of factors contribute to Southwest’s historic low
cost advantage, the primary driver is the productivity and Southwest
Spirit of our People. We are devoted to the low-fare, point-to-point
market niche and have a highly efficient route structure. This
market focus allows us to operate a single aircraft type, the Boeing 737.
Commonality of fleet significantly simplifies our scheduling,
operations, and maintenance and, therefore, lowers cost. We
consistently run an ontime operation, with few mishandled bags
8.96¢
9.43¢
8.51¢
9.5¢
9.0¢
8.5¢
8.0¢
7.5¢
7.0¢
1999 2000 2001 2002
Operating Revenues Per Available Seat Mile
8.02¢
2003
8.27¢
70
60
50
40
30
1999 2000 2001 2002
52,855
59,910
65,295
68,887
2003
71,790
Available Seat Miles
(in millions)
6
Southwest Airlines Co. 2003 Annual Report
CHICAGO
MIDWAY
BALTIMORE/
WASHINGTON
INTERNATIONAL
HOUSTON
HOBBY
Recent renovations to our Chicago Midway, Baltimore/Washington International, and
Houston Hobby airports have resulted in stunning new environments for our colorful
Southwest counters and gate areas. Not only are these downtown airports more convenient
than their big airport counterparts, they are now calm, comfortable, and traveler-friendly.
Southwest offers our Customers a welcome oasis from a workaday world, coast-to-coast and
border-to-border.
7
Southwest Airlines Co. 2003 Annual Report
and cancellations. Our fleet is young and well-maintained, which
also allows us to avoid excessive mechanical delays. Where available,
we favor alternative airports in major U.S. cities, avoiding congestion
in competitors’ hubs, which keeps our planes off the ground and in
the air where they are making money.
We have a very strong low-fare brand, which draws Customers
to us directly and results in very low distribution costs. In 2003,
approximately 54 percent of passenger revenues were derived
through the Company’s web site at southwest.com and only 16 percent
were booked through travel agents. Going forward, our distribution
costs will be even lower due to the consolidation of our reservations
operations and the elimination of traditional travel agency
commissions.
Southwest also has a successful hedging program, which saved
us $171 million in jet fuel costs during 2003. We are also well
protected in 2004 and 2005 with over 80 and 70 percent, respectively,
of our anticipated fuel requirements hedged with prices capped at
approximately $24 per barrel of crude oil.
Low Fares
Low fares has been our philosophy since day one — every seat,
every flight, every day. Since 1971, we have fought to keep our costs
low so that we could make flying affordable instead of a luxury for
a few. As we have grown and introduced Southwest fares to the
new communities we serve, more of our Customers understand
they can always rely on us for a low fare.
Although every carrier has been a “low-fare carrier” since
September 11, we are the only airline that has offered low fares
profitably and consistently for 32+ years. Our Employees remain
dedicated to spreading low fares and their Legendary Customer
Service across America. Bringing low fares to Americans is not just
our business, it’s our passion.
Legendary Customer Service
Our Employees are widely recognized for their Southwest
Spirit and caring hearts. Because we have earned a reputation as
a great place to work, we attract and hire the best applicants.
According to the April 2003 issue of
FORTUNE, Southwest
is an employer of choice among college students. Once we hire
someone, we train, develop, and provide the support they
need to succeed. We trust our Employees, and we empower
them to effectively make decisions to perform their jobs in a
challenging industry.
Our Employees genuinely care about our Company, our
Customers, and the communities we serve. They have had to
endure constant change and stress since September 11, 2001, while
adapting to complicated security measures and procedures. We have
deployed new technologies at our airports and dramatically changed
the way we operate our business. Despite these difficult operating
conditions, our People never lost their compassion, caring hearts, or
desire to deliver the best Customer Service in the industry. Southwest
had the best annual Customer complaint record of all carriers for
the 13th straight year based on Customer complaints reported in the
U.S. Department of Transportation’s (D.O.T.) Air Travel Consumer
Report. Southwest also had the best systemwide ontime performance
record of any Major U.S. airline for the full year 2003 as reported
in the D.O.T.’s Air Travel Consumer Report. (A Major airline is
defined as having annual operating revenue of $1 billion or more.)
During 2003,
The Wall Street Journal reported Southwest ranked
first among airlines for the highest Customer Service Satisfaction,
according to a survey by the American Customer Satisfaction Index.
In 2003, Southwest was named “Best Domestic Airline of the Year”
by
Travel Weekly and “Airline of the Year” by Air Transport World
magazine. Southwest is also consistently recognized by FORTUNE as
one of America’s Most Admired Companies and America’s most
admired airline.
Our Employees are also wonderful stewards in the communities
we serve. Southwest is committed to “doing the right thing,” which
is why giving back to the communities we serve and positively
contributing to the environment is simply the way we do business. As
a result of our caring and altruistic Employees, Southwest was included
in
Global Finance magazine’s January 2004 “Experts’ List of the
World’s Most Socially Responsible Companies.” Southwest was also
listed again in
Business Ethics magazine’s “100 Best Corporate
Citizens” and again recognized for having the best reputation among
U.S. airlines in a 2003 study conducted by Harris Interactive Inc. and
the Reputation Institute. In addition, Southwest was the first U.S.
airline to be awarded the “Corporate Conscience Award for
Community Positive Impact” in October 2003.
Frequent Flights
Southwest offers lots of flights to the cities we serve and
continued to increase flights in 2003. We have approximately
2,800 daily frequencies to 59 airports. Our high frequencies and
expansive route system offer our Customers convenience and
reliability with lots of options to get where they want to go, when
they want to get there.
As a result of the combination of low fares, high frequencies, and
our friendly Customer Service, we dominate the majority of the markets
we serve. We consistently rank first in market share in approximately
90 percent of our top 100 city-pair markets and, in the aggregate, hold
around 65 percent of the total market share in those markets.
Although our revenues have been soft since September 11,
2001, our market share has increased in many of our markets as
most of our major competitors have been forced to shrink
8
Southwest Airlines Co. 2003 Annual Report
9
Southwest Airlines Co. 2003 Annual Report
their operations. For example, as of second quarter 2003 (the
latest information available), we have a 48 percent market share
in Chicago Midway; 44 percent in Baltimore; 36 percent in LasVegas;
and 36 percent in Phoenix. We also have a 74 percent intra-Texas
market share; 71 percent intra-California; and 42 percent intra-Florida.
Rapid Rewards
In addition to our low fares and convenient flight schedule, our
frequent flyers are generously rewarded with free trips through our
Rapid Rewards program. Rapid Rewards allows Customers to
receive a roundtrip award valid for travel anywhere Southwest flies
by simply flying eight roundtrips or earning 16 credits (a one-way
ticket equals one credit) within 12 consecutive months. There are
no seat restrictions and very few blackout dates for awards travel;
therefore, Members can use their award to fly virtually anytime to
any Southwest destination. Rapid Rewards awards are also fully
transferable.
Inside Flyer magazine recognized the generosity and
simplicity of our Rapid Rewards program with its Freddie Awards
for Best Customer Service, Best Award Redemption, and Best
Bonus Promotion among all frequent flyer programs. Rapid
Rewards Members can also receive Rapid Rewards credits when
doing business with our Preferred Partners (Alamo, American
Express, Budget, Diners Club, Dollar, Hertz, Earthlink, Nextel,
Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, La Quinta, and Choice brand hotels) as
well as through the use of the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
Bank One
®
Visa credit card.
Strong Financials
Our Chairman and Co-founder, Herb Kelleher, has always
taught us to manage our Company in good times so that we are
ready for bad times. As a result of this philosophy, we have the
strongest financial position in the industry, and we were prepared
for the devastating aftermath of September 11, 2001. We operate
in an industry that is cyclical, energy intensive, labor intensive,
and capital intensive. Our operating costs are largely fixed,
and our operations are subject to federal oversight, weather
conditions, and natural disasters. Our industry is also highly
competitive. Consequently, we must always be financially prepared
for the worst.
Since September 11, 2001, we have taken the necessary steps
to protect and even strengthen our balance sheet and liquidity. At
the end of 2003, we had $1.87 billion in cash on hand, a fully
available bank revolving credit facility of $575 million, unmortgaged
assets of over $5 billion, and debt to total capital of less than
40 percent, including leases as debt. We are the only airline with an
investment-grade credit rating. We have adequate access
to the capital markets and have strengthened our financial
position during the post-September 11 period; therefore, we
are well poised to take advantage of growth opportunities or
face further adversities.
In consideration of our strong financial and cash flow
position and our desire to maximize Employee-Shareholder and
non-Employee-Shareholder value, we recently announced that
we intend to use a portion of the very significant present and
anticipated proceeds from the exercise of Employee stock options
toward the repurchase of up to $300 million of our common
stock from time to time in the open market.
Growth Opportunities
Steady, conservative growth during the recessionary environment
since the terrorist attacks has enabled Southwest to restore our
operations, strengthen our balance sheet, and maintain our
profitability. We grew our annual capacity by just over four percent
in 2003 and over five percent in 2002. Since September 11, 2001, we
have added 30 net aircraft. The airline industry, on the other hand,
has reduced domestic capacity by 15 to 20 percent. As a result of our
decision to cautiously grow rather than reduce capacity, Southwest
topped the monthly domestic originating passenger rankings for the
first time in May 2003. Also Southwest is the largest carrier based
on scheduled domestic departures.
With the exception of Norfolk, which was planned prior to the
terrorist attacks, there have been no new cities since September 11,
2001. Instead, we added new city-pair routings and increased existing
PHILADELPHIA
FREEDOM
Net Income (in millions)
Excludes cumulative effect of change
in accounting principle of $22 million
1999 2000 2001 2002
$600
$500
$400
$300
$200
$100
$474
$625*
*
$511
$241
2003
$442
Average Daily Departures
1999 2000 2001 2002
2,800
2,600
2,400
2,200
2,000
2,550
2,700
2,800
2,800
2003
2,800
1.0
.75
.50
.25
Customer Service
(Complaints per 100,000 Customers boarded)
For the year ending December 31, 2003
Excludes American Eagle Airlines
LUV
.14
ALK
.52
U
.90
NWAC
.95
DAL
.78
CAL
.95
AMR
.88
UAL
.83
AWA
.84
*
*
In October 2003, Southwest announced service to Philadelphia, the city that freedom built,
beginning in May 2004. Philadelphia was once the home of local legend and Southwest
Chairman Herb Kelleher (center left), whose triumphant return to his boyhood home gives all
Philadelphians the Freedom to Fly. Philadelphia is also the home of the original Ronald
McDonald House (lower left), the primary charity of Southwest Airlines.
9
Southwest Airlines Co. 2003 Annual Report
their operations. For example, as of second quarter 2003 (the
latest information available), we have a 48 percent market share
in Chicago Midway; 44 percent in Baltimore; 36 percent in LasVegas;
and 36 percent in Phoenix. We also have a 74 percent intra-Texas
market share; 71 percent intra-California; and 42 percent intra-Florida.
Rapid Rewards
In addition to our low fares and convenient flight schedule, our
frequent flyers are generously rewarded with free trips through our
Rapid Rewards program. Rapid Rewards allows Customers to
receive a roundtrip award valid for travel anywhere Southwest flies
by simply flying eight roundtrips or earning 16 credits (a one-way
ticket equals one credit) within 12 consecutive months. There are
no seat restrictions and very few blackout dates for awards travel;
therefore, Members can use their award to fly virtually anytime to
any Southwest destination. Rapid Rewards awards are also fully
transferable.
Inside Flyer magazine recognized the generosity and
simplicity of our Rapid Rewards program with its Freddie Awards
for Best Customer Service, Best Award Redemption, and Best
Bonus Promotion among all frequent flyer programs. Rapid
Rewards Members can also receive Rapid Rewards credits when
doing business with our Preferred Partners (Alamo, American
Express, Budget, Diners Club, Dollar, Hertz, Earthlink, Nextel,
Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, La Quinta, and Choice brand hotels) as
well as through the use of the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
Bank One
®
Visa credit card.
Strong Financials
Our Chairman and Co-founder, Herb Kelleher, has always
taught us to manage our Company in good times so that we are
ready for bad times. As a result of this philosophy, we have the
strongest financial position in the industry, and we were prepared
for the devastating aftermath of September 11, 2001. We operate
in an industry that is cyclical, energy intensive, labor intensive,
and capital intensive. Our operating costs are largely fixed,
and our operations are subject to federal oversight, weather
conditions, and natural disasters. Our industry is also highly
competitive. Consequently, we must always be financially prepared
for the worst.
Since September 11, 2001, we have taken the necessary steps
to protect and even strengthen our balance sheet and liquidity. At
the end of 2003, we had $1.87 billion in cash on hand, a fully
available bank revolving credit facility of $575 million, unmortgaged
assets of over $5 billion, and debt to total capital of less than
40 percent, including leases as debt. We are the only airline with an
investment-grade credit rating. We have adequate access
to the capital markets and have strengthened our financial
position during the post-September 11 period; therefore, we
are well poised to take advantage of growth opportunities or
face further adversities.
In consideration of our strong financial and cash flow
position and our desire to maximize Employee-Shareholder and
non-Employee-Shareholder value, we recently announced that
we intend to use a portion of the very significant present and
anticipated proceeds from the exercise of Employee stock options
toward the repurchase of up to $300 million of our common
stock from time to time in the open market.
Growth Opportunities
Steady, conservative growth during the recessionary environment
since the terrorist attacks has enabled Southwest to restore our
operations, strengthen our balance sheet, and maintain our
profitability. We grew our annual capacity by just over four percent
in 2003 and over five percent in 2002. Since September 11, 2001, we
have added 30 net aircraft. The airline industry, on the other hand,
has reduced domestic capacity by 15 to 20 percent. As a result of our
decision to cautiously grow rather than reduce capacity, Southwest
topped the monthly domestic originating passenger rankings for the
first time in May 2003. Also Southwest is the largest carrier based
on scheduled domestic departures.
With the exception of Norfolk, which was planned prior to the
terrorist attacks, there have been no new cities since September 11,
2001. Instead, we added new city-pair routings and increased existing
Net Income (in millions)
Excludes cumulative effect of change
in accounting principle of $22 million
1999 2000 2001 2002
$600
$500
$400
$300
$200
$100
$474
$625*
*
$511
$241
2003
$442
1.0
.75
.50
.25
Customer Service
(Complaints per 100,000 Customers boarded)
For the year ending December 31, 2003
Excludes American Eagle Airlines
LUV
.14
ALK
.52
U
.90
NWAC
.95
DAL
.78
CAL
.95
AMR
.88
UAL
.83
AWA
.84
*
*
FREEDOM
10
Southwest Airlines Co. 2003 Annual Report
FIGHTERS
The People of Southwest Airlines are our most valuable asset. It is their friendliness, Customer
caring, and relentless resourcefulness that have helped make Southwest one of the world’s most
successful airlines. We are not a Company of planes; we are a Company of People — People
willing to fight for your right to fly.
11
Southwest Airlines Co. 2003 Annual Report
service in many markets, particularly in Baltimore/Washington
and Chicago Midway. We celebrated our tenth anniversary in
Baltimore/Washington in 2003, now our third largest market in
terms of daily departures. We have 161 daily nonstop flights from
Baltimore/Washington, including coast-to-coast service to Los
Angeles, San Jose, and San Diego. Chicago Midway is now our fifth
largest city in terms of daily departures with 134.
In addition to recently expanding airport facilities at
Baltimore/Washington and Chicago Midway, we have major expansion
projects at Fort Lauderdale, Houston Hobby, Las Vegas, Long Island/Islip,
Oakland, Orange County, Orlando, Phoenix, and Tampa Bay.
With the worst of times hopefully behind us, we are prepared
for accelerated growth. As a result of significant penetration by
Southwest and other low-fare carriers and the ability for Customers
to easily shop for low fares on the Internet, more Americans than
ever realize that they do not have to pay high fares. Given the weak
financial condition of the industry, we are uniquely positioned to
meet the increased demand for low fares. After all, profitably offering
low fares is what we do best!
As a result of our improved longterm outlook and numerous
opportunities to grow, we have stepped up our growth rate and
currently expect to increase capacity almost eight percent in 2004
and over ten percent in 2005. In total, we have just under 400 Boeing
737 aircraft on either firm order, option, or purchase rights with The
Boeing Company from 2004 through 2012, which results in an
annualized growth rate during this period of roughly eight percent.
We are well positioned to grow our traditional low-fare,
point-to-point market niche and are excited to bring the Freedom
to Fly to Philadelphia in May 2004. From Philadelphia, we will
initially begin service to Chicago Midway, Las Vegas, Orlando,
Phoenix, Providence, and Tampa Bay.
Airport Automation
Our People have done a wonderful job of responding to the
multitude of complex security changes since the September 11,
2001, terrorist attacks. In fact, our Chairman was recently appointed
to the Private Sector Senior Advisory Committee, a subcommittee
of the Homeland Security Advisory Council. Although these new
requirements initially presented challenges and longer checkin
times and lines for our Customers, the checkin times are back to
normal for our Customers and, in many ways, the airport experience
has been improved.
To facilitate the many new security requirements, we have
streamlined our airport operations with automation. We implemented
computer-generated baggage tags to electronically capture bags
checked by Customers. We then introduced computer-generated
Automated Boarding Passes from multiple points at the airport. This
allows us to identify the Customer by name for boarding purposes and
allows the Customer a more convenient checkin at airports through
standing in fewer lines. We also implemented self-service boarding
pass kiosks, or RAPID CHECK-IN, to allow our Customers plenty of
options to acquire boarding passes and alleviate checkin lines at ticket
and gate counters. As a result of this technology, we recently installed
gate reconciliation devices at our airports to speed the boarding
process. In 2004, Customers will be able to check bags using our
RAPID CHECK-IN kiosks and will be able to obtain their
transfer boarding passes at the time of checkin. We will also
offer Customer checkin and boarding passes on southwest.com.
All-Jet Fleet
At the end of 2003, Southwest operated an all-coach,
all-Boeing 737 fleet. All of our future orders, options, and purchase
rights with The Boeing Company for 2004 through 2012 are for
B737-700s. The average age of our young fleet is less than ten years.
As the -700 model is our future, we are in the process of retiring our
-200 fleet over the next two years with 18 and five retirements
scheduled in 2004 and 2005, respectively.
Since 2001, we have been renewing the interior and exterior of
our fleet, including leather-covered seats. Beginning in October
2004, all of our -700s are expected to be delivered with Blended
Winglets, and we are in the process of retrofitting our existing -700s
with winglets through early 2005. The addition of these wing
enhancements will extend the range of the aircraft, save fuel, lower
engine maintenance costs, and reduce takeoff noise.
1999 2000 2001 2002
11:20
11:15
11:10
11:05
11:00
Aircraft Utilization (hours and minutes per day)
11:10
11:18
11:10
11:12
2003
11:09
Boeing 737-700 Firm Orders and Options
Firm Orders
47 28
34
22 25 6
–
–––
–
–
6 12 9 25
2020 177
177
217
397
128
52
47 34 54 51
Options
Purchase Rights
Type
Total
Total
2009-
2012
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
12
Southwest Airlines Co. 2003 Annual Report
Southwest System Map
•
Service to Philadelphia starts May 9, 2004
Southwest’s Market Share
(Southwest’s top 100 city-pair markets based on passengers carried)
Southwest’s Capacity By Region
Southwest
65%
Other Carriers
35%
California
18%
Remaining West
26%
Midwest
15%
East
29%
Southwest’s Top Ten Airports — Daily Departures
Heartland
12%
(Santa Fe Area)
(Miami Area)
Oakland
Los Angeles (LAX)
San Diego
Phoenix
Tucson
Albuquerque
Amarillo
Lubbock
Midland/
Odessa
El Paso
Dallas
(Love Field)
Austin
Houston
(Hobby & Intercontinental)
Corpus
Christi
Harlingen/South Padre Island
New Orleans
Birmingham
Nashville
Oklahoma City
Tulsa
Omaha
Little Rock
St. Louis
Chicago
(Midway)
San Antonio
Sacramento
Burbank
Reno/Tahoe
Salt Lake City
Cleveland
Providence
Long Island/Islip
Norfolk
Manchester
Detroit
Columbus
Kansas City
Louisville
San Jose
Baltimore/
(BWI)
Washington
Portland
Boise
Seattle/
Tacoma
Spokane
Orange County
Jacksonville
Ft. Lauderdale
Jackson
Ontario
Raleigh-Durham
Hartford/Springfield
Albany
Philadelphia
West Palm Beach
Orlando
Tampa Bay
Buffalo/
Niagara Falls
Indianapolis
Las Vegas
(D.C. Area)
(Southern Virginia)
(Boston Area)
(Boston Area)
(Palm Springs Area)
(San Francisco Area)
(San Francisco Area)
200
175
150
125
100
75
50
83
San Diego
86
Nashville
114
Los Angeles
122
Oakland
143
Houston
Hobby
183
Las Vegas
185
Phoenix
161
Baltimore/
Washington
134
Chicago
Midway
130
Dallas Love
13
Southwest Airlines Co. 2003 Annual Report
COMMON STOCK PRICE RANGES AND DIVIDENDS
Southwest’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is traded under the symbol LUV. The high and low sales prices of the common
stock on the Composite Tape and the quarterly dividends per share were:
PERIOD DIVIDENDS HIGH LOW
2003
1st Quarter $.0045 $15.33 $11.72
2nd Quarter .0045 17.70 14.09
3rd Quarter .0045 18.99 15.86
4th Quarter .0045 19.69 15.30
2002
1st Quarter $.0045 $22.00 $17.17
2nd Quarter .0045 19.35 14.85
3rd Quarter .0045 16.08 10.90
4th Quarter .0045 16.70 11.23
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
THREE MONTHS ENDED
(In millions, except per share amounts) MARCH 31 JUNE 30 SEPTEMBER 30 DECEMBER 31
2003
Operating revenues $1,351 $1,515 $1,553 $1,517
Operating income 46 140 185 111
Income before income taxes 39 397 171 101
Net income 24 246 106 66
Net income per share, basic .03 .32 .14 .08
Net income per share, diluted .03 .30 .13 .08
2002
Operating revenues $1,257 $1,473 $1,391 $1,401
Operating income 49 189 91 88
Income before income taxes 35 169 124 64
Net income 21 102 75 42
Net income per share, basic .03 .13 .10 .05
Net income per share, diluted .03 .13 .09 .05
1999 2000 2001 2002
Operating Revenue
(in millions)
$4,736
$5,650
$5,555
$5,522
2003
$5,937
$6,000
$5,000
$4,000
$3,000
$2,000
$1,000
1999
2000
2001
2002
Passenger Load Factor
69.0%
70.5%
68.1%
65.9%
2003
66.8%
75%
70%
65%
60%
55%
50%
50
40
30
20
10
1999 2000 2001 2002
36,479
42,215
44,494
45,392
2003
47,943
Revenue Passenger Miles
(in millions)
14
Southwest Airlines Co. 2003 Annual Report
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
2003
(4)
2002
(3)
2001
(3)
2000
Operating revenues:
Passenger
(2)
$ 5,741 $ 5,341 $ 5,379 $ 5,468
Freight 94 85 91 111
Other
(2)
102 96 85 71
Total operating revenues 5,937 5,522 5,555 5,650
Operating expenses 5,454 5,105 4,924 4,628
Operating income 483 417 631 1,022
Other expenses (income), net (225) 24 (197) 4
Income before income taxes 708 393 828 1,018
Provision for income taxes 266 152 317 392
Net income
(1)
$442 $241 $511 $626
Net income per share, basic
(1)
$.56 $.31 $.67 $.84
Net income per share, diluted
(1)
$.54 $.30 $.63 $.79
Cash dividends per common share $.0180 $.0180 $.0180 $.0148
Total assets $ 9,878 $ 8,954 $ 8,997 $ 6,670
Long-term debt less current maturities $ 1,332 $ 1,553 $ 1,327 $ 761
Stockholders’ equity $ 5,052 $ 4,422 $ 4,014 $ 3,451
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RATIOS
Return on average total assets 4.7% 2.7% 6.5% 10.1%
Return on average stockholders’ equity 9.3% 5.7% 13.7% 19.9%
CONSOLIDATED OPERATING STATISTICS
Revenue passengers carried 65,673,945 63,045,988 64,446,773 63,678,261
RPMs (000s) 47,943,066 45,391,903 44,493,916 42,215,162
ASMs (000s) 71,790,425 68,886,546 65,295,290 59,909,965
Passenger load factor 66.8% 65.9% 68.1% 70.5%
Average length of passenger haul 730 720 690 663
Trips flown 949,882 947,331 940,426 903,754
Average passenger fare
(2)
$87.42 $84.72 $83.46 $85.87
Passenger revenue yield per RPM
(2)
11.97¢ 11.77¢ 12.09¢ 12.95¢
Operating revenue yield per ASM 8.27¢ 8.02¢ 8.51¢ 9.43¢
Operating expenses per ASM 7.60¢ 7.41¢ 7.54¢ 7.73¢
Operating expenses per ASM, excluding fuel 6.44¢ 6.30¢ 6.36¢ 6.38¢
Fuel cost per gallon (average) 72.3¢ 68.0¢ 70.9¢ 78.7¢
Number of Employees at yearend 32,847 33,705 31,580 29,274
Size of fleet at yearend
(5)
388 375 355 344
(1)
Before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
(2)
Includes effect of reclassification of revenue reported in 1999 through 1995 related to sale of flight segment
credits from Other to Passenger due to the accounting change implemented in 2000
(3)
Certain figures in 2001 and 2002 include special items related to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and Stabilization Act grant
(4) Certain figures in 2003 include special items related to the Wartime Act grant
(5) Includes leased aircraft
(6)
Includes certain estimates for Morris Air Corporation, acquired by the Company in 1994
TEN-YEAR SUMMARY
15
Southwest Airlines Co. 2003 Annual Report
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
$ 4,563 $ 4,010 $ 3,670 $ 3,285 $ 2,768 $ 2,498
103 99 95 80 66 54
70 55 52 41 39 40
4,736 4,164 3,817 3,406 2,873 2,592
3,954 3,480 3,293 3,055 2,559 2,275
782 684 524 351 314 317
8 (21) 7 10 8 18
774 705 517 341 306 299
299 272 199 134 123 120
$ 475 $ 433 $ 218 $ 207 $ 183 $ 179
$.63 $.58 $.43 $.28 $.25 $.25
$.59 $.55 $.41 $.27 $.24 $.24
$.0143 $.0126 $.0098 $.0087 $.0079 $.0079
$ 5,654 $ 4,716 $ 4,246 $ 3,723 $ 3,256 $ 2,823
$ 872 $ 623 $ 628 $ 650 $ 661 $ 583
$ 2,836 $ 2,398 $ 2,009 $ 1,648 $ 1,427 $ 1,239
9.2% 9.7% 8.0% 5.9% 6.0% 6.6%
18.1% 19.7% 17.4% 13.5% 13.7% 15.6%
57,500, 213 52,586,400 50,399 ,960 49,621,504 44,785,573 42,742,602
(6)
36,479,322 31,419,110 28,355,169 27,083,483 23,327,804 21,611,266
52,855,467 47,543,515 44,487,496 40,727,495 36,180,001 32,123,974
69.0% 66.1% 63.7% 66.5% 64.5% 67.3%
634 597 563 546 521 506
846,823 806,822 786,288 748,634 685,524 624,476
$79.35 $76.26 $72.81 $66.20 $61.80 $58.44
12.51¢ 12.76¢ 12.94¢ 12.13¢ 11.86¢ 11.56¢
8.96¢ 8.76¢ 8.58¢ 8.36¢ 7.94¢ 8.07¢
7.48¢ 7.32¢ 7.40¢ 7.50¢ 7.07¢ 7.08¢
6.55¢ 6.50¢ 6.29¢ 6.31¢ 6.06¢ 6.09¢
52.7¢ 45.7¢ 62.5¢ 65.5¢ 55.2¢ 53.9¢
27,653 25,844 23,974 22,944 19,933 16,818
312 280 261 243 224 199
16
Southwest Airlines Co. 2003 Annual Report
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
Registered shareholder inquiries regarding
stock transfers, address changes, lost stock
certificates, dividend payments, or account
consolidation should be directed to:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
17 Battery Place
New York, New York 10004
(212) 509-4000
STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING
New York Stock Exchange
Ticker Symbol: LUV
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Ernst & Young LLP
Dallas, Texas
GENERAL OFFICES
P.O. Box 36611
Dallas, Texas 75235-1611
ANNUAL MEETING
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
Southwest Airlines Co. will be held at 10:00 a.m.
on May 19, 2004, at the Southwest Airlines
Corporate Headquarters, 2702 Love Field Drive,
Dallas, Texas.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
A copy of the Company’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K as filed with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other
financial information can be found on Southwest’s
web site (southwest.com) or may be obtained
without charge by writing or calling:
Southwest Airlines Co.
Investor Relations
P.O. Box 36611
Dallas, Texas 75235-1611
Telephone (214) 792-4908
DIRECTORS
COLLEEN C. BARRETT
President and Chief Operating Officer
Southwest Airlines Co., Dallas, Texas
LOUIS CALDERA
President of The University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico; Audit and
Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committees
C. WEBB CROCKETT
Attorney, Fennemore Craig,
Attorneys at Law, Phoenix, Arizona;
Compensation and Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committees
WILLIAM H. CUNNINGHAM, Ph.D.
James L. Bayless Professor of Marketing
University of Texas School of Business
Former Chancellor of The University of Texas
System, Austin, Texas; Audit (Chairman) and
Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committees
WILLIAM P. HOBBY
Chairman of the Board, Hobby
Communications, L.L.C.; Former Lieutenant
Governor of Texas; Houston, Texas; Audit,
Compensation (Chairman), and Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committees
TRAVIS C. JOHNSON
Attorney at Law, El Paso, Texas; Audit,
Executive, and Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committees
HERBERT D. KELLEHER
Chairman of the Board, Southwest Airlines Co.,
Dallas, Texas; Executive Committee
ROLLIN W. KING
Retired, Dallas, Texas; Audit, Executive, and
Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committees
NANCY LOEFFLER
Longtime advocate of volunteerism
San Antonio, Texas
JOHN T. MONTFORD
President, External Affairs, SBC Southwest,
a division of SBC Communications, Inc.,
San Antonio, Texas; Audit and Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committees
JUNE M. MORRIS
Founder and former Chief Executive Officer
of Morris Air Corporation, Salt Lake City, Utah;
Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committees
JAMES F. PARKER
Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Southwest Airlines Co., Dallas, Texas
OFFICERS
JAMES F. PARKER*
Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
COLLEEN C. BARRETT*
President and Chief Operating Officer
Corporate Secretary
DONNA D. CONOVER*
Executive Vice President — Customer Service
GARY C. KELLY*
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
JAMES C. WIMBERLY*
Executive Vice President and
Chief of Operations
JOYCE C. ROGGE*
Senior Vice President — Marketing
DEBORAH ACKERMAN
Vice President — General Counsel
BEVERLY CARMICHAEL
Vice President — People Department
GREGORY N. CRUM
Vice President — Flight Operations
GINGER C. HARDAGE
Vice President — Corporate Communications
ROBERT E. JORDAN
Vice President — Technology
CAMILLE T. KEITH
Vice President — Special Marketing
DARYL KRAUSE
Vice President — Provisioning
KEVIN M. KRONE
Vice President — Interactive Marketing
PETE MCGLADE
Vice President — Schedule Planning
BOB MONTGOMERY
Vice President — Properties and Facilities
ROB MYRBEN
Vice President — Fuel
RON RICKS*
Vice President — Governmental Affairs
DAVE RIDLEY*
Vice President — Ground Operations
JAMES A. RUPPEL
Vice President — Customer Relations
and Rapid Rewards
RAY SEARS
Vice President — Purchasing
JIM SOKOL
Vice President — Maintenance and Engineering
KEITH L. TAYLOR
Vice President — Revenue Management
ELLEN TORBERT
Vice President — Reservations
MICHAEL G. VAN DE VEN
Vice President — Financial Planning
and Analysis
TAMMYE WALKER-JONES
Vice President — Inflight
GREG WELLS
Vice President — Safety, Security,
and Flight Dispatch
STEVEN P. WHALEY
Controller
LAURA H. WRIGHT
Vice President — Finance and Treasurer
*Member of Executive Planning Committee
CORPORATE DATA
“One of the interesting results of this financial crisis is that some airlines have found ways to operate far more efficiently – and cheaply.
The ideas aren’t really new – many are things Southwest has been doing for years.”
– USA Today, January 9, 2003
“The top ten won the business world’s regard…by refocusing attention where it counts the most: on customers and employees.”
— FORTUNE magazine, in its annual listing of “America’s Most Admired Companies,” in which Southwest finished second, February 19, 2003
Rather than starting their own, “If Delta and United really want to invest in a discount airline, there’s a better way: Buy some Southwest
stock.”
– Washington Post columnist Steven Pearlstein, in an article titled “Airline Recovery Plans Fly in the Face of Reason,” March 25, 2003
“Unlike other carriers, Southwest has lured plenty of Customers without partnering with travel Web sites Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz.
‘Their Customers seek them out, which is tremendous,’ said Paul Berliner, an industry consultant. ‘I mean, my goodness, that’s what you
dream about.’”
– San Jose Mercury News, May 8, 2003
“Many carriers, new and old, are trying to emulate Southwest’s low-cost, no-frills formula. And there has been a nearly perfect inverse
correlation between declining traffic for old-line carriers and increasing traffic at the low-cost carriers of which Southwest is the progenitor.”
– The Wall Street Journal, July 24, 2003
“Let’s see…Southwest pays Employees well and makes it clear through actions rather than ‘managementspeak’ that it appreciates and trusts
its workers. And the company succeeds where others fail. What a shock.”
– The San Francisco Chronicle, August 13, 2003
“It’s becoming as predictable as death and taxes: Southwest Airlines reported its 50th-consecutive quarterly profit.” – “Today in the Sky,”
USA Today, October 22, 2003
“Southwest Airlines may only be the nation’s sixth largest airline, but it doesn’t act like No. 6. In many ways, it may be No. 1. The grandfather
of the low-cost airline has set the pace and provided the model for the latest crop of low-fare carriers. …Southwest’s financial superlatives
in these days of airline bankruptcies are of chest-pounding stuff.”
– Airline Financial News, December 4, 2003
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
P.O. Box 36611
Dallas, Texas 75235-1611
214.792.4000
1.800.I.FLY.SWA
southwest.com
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2003 or
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ____________ to ____________
Commission File No. 1-7259
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
TEXAS 74-1563240
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization) 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
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
Name of Each Exchange
Title of Each Class on Which Registered
Common Stock ($1.00 par value) New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
Common Share Purchase Rights New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:
None
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein,
and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934). Yes [X] No [ ]
The aggregate market value of the Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately
$13,309,000,000, computed by reference to the closing sale price of the stock on the New York Stock Exchange on June
30, 2003, the last trading day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.
Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the close of business on December 31, 2003: 789,390,678 shares
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, May 19, 2004: PART III
PART I
Item 1. Business
Description of Business
Southwest Airlines Co. (“Southwest”) is a major domestic airline that provides predominantly shorthaul,
high-frequency, point-to-point, low-fare service. Southwest was incorporated in Texas in 1967 and
commenced Customer Service on June 18, 1971 with three Boeing 737 aircraft serving three Texas cities -
Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.
At year-end 2003, Southwest operated 388 Boeing 737 aircraft and provided service to 59 airports in
58 cities in 30 states throughout the United States. Southwest Airlines topped the monthly domestic
passenger traffic rankings for the first time in May 2003. Based on monthly data from May through August
2003 (the latest available data), Southwest Airlines is the largest carrier in the United States based on
originating domestic passengers boarded and scheduled domestic departures. The Company recently
announced that it intends to begin service to Philadelphia in May 2004.
One of Southwest’s competitive strengths is its low operating costs. Southwest has the lowest costs,
adjusted for stage length, on a per mile basis, of all of the major airlines. Among the factors that contribute
to its low cost structure are a single aircraft type, an efficient, high-utilization, point-to-point route structure,
and hardworking, innovative, and highly productive Employees.
The business of the Company is somewhat seasonal. Quarterly operating income and, to a lesser
extent, revenues tend to be lower in the first quarter (January 1 - March 31) and fourth quarter (October 1 -
December 31) of most years.
Southwest’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including its annual
report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those
reports are accessible free of charge at www.southwest.com.
Fuel
The cost of fuel is an item having significant impact on the Company's operating results. The
Company's average cost of jet fuel, net of hedging gains, over the past five years was as follows:
Year
Cost
(Millions)
Average Cost
per Gallon
Percent of
Operating Expenses
1999 $492 $.53 12.5%
2000 $804 $.79 17.4%
2001 $771 $.71 15.6%
2002 $762 $.68 14.9%
2003 $830 $.72 15.2%
From October 1, 2003 through December 31, 2003, the average cost per gallon was $.74. See
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for a discussion
of Southwest’s fuel hedging activities.
Regulation
Economic. The Dallas Love Field section of the International Air Transportation Competition Act of
1979, as amended in 1997 (commonly known as the “Wright Amendment”), as it affects Southwest's
scheduled service, provides that no common carrier may provide scheduled passenger air transportation for
compensation between Love Field and one or more points outside Texas, except that an air carrier may
transport individuals by air on a flight between Love Field and one or more points within the states of
Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas if (a) "such air
carrier does not offer or provide any through service or ticketing with another air carrier" and (b) "such air
carrier does not offer for sale transportation to or from, and the flight or aircraft does not serve, any point
which is outside any such states." The Wright Amendment does not restrict flights operated with aircraft
having 56 or fewer passenger seats. The Wright Amendment does not restrict Southwest's intrastate Texas
flights or its air service from points other than Love Field.
The Department of Transportation (“DOT”) has significant regulatory jurisdiction over passenger
airlines. Unless exempted, no air carrier may furnish air transportation over any route without a DOT
certificate of public convenience and necessity, which does not confer either exclusive or proprietary rights.
The Company's certificates are unlimited in duration and permit the Company to operate among any points
within the United States, its territories and possessions, except as limited by the Wright Amendment, as do
the certificates of all other U.S. carriers. DOT may revoke such certificates, in whole or in part, for
intentional failure to comply with certain provisions of the U.S. Transportation Code, or any order or
regulation issued thereunder or any term of such certificate; provided that, with respect to revocation, the
certificate holder has first been advised of the alleged violation and fails to comply after being given a
reasonable time to do so.
DOT prescribes uniform disclosure standards regarding terms and conditions of carriage and
prescribes that terms incorporated into the Contract of Carriage by reference are not binding upon passengers
unless notice is given in accordance with its regulations.
Safety. The Company and its third-party maintenance providers are subject to the jurisdiction of the
Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) with respect to its aircraft maintenance and operations, including
equipment, ground facilities, dispatch, communications, flight training personnel, and other matters affecting
air safety. To ensure compliance with its regulations, the FAA requires airlines to obtain operating,
airworthiness, and other certificates, which are subject to suspension or revocation for cause. The Company
has obtained such certificates. The FAA, acting through its own powers or through the appropriate U. S.
Attorney, also has the power to bring proceedings for the imposition and collection of fines for violation of
the Federal Air Regulations.
The Company is subject to various other federal, state, and local laws and regulations relating to
occupational safety and health, including Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.
Security. On November 19, 2001, President Bush signed into law the Aviation and Transportation
Security Act (“Security Act”). The Security Act generally provides for enhanced aviation security measures.
The Security Act established a new Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”), which has recently
been moved to the new Department of Homeland Security. The TSA assumed the aviation security functions
previously residing in the FAA and assumed passenger screening contracts at U.S. airports on February 17,
2002. The TSA now provides for the screening of all passengers and property, which is performed by
federal employees. Beginning February 1, 2002, a $2.50 per enplanement security fee is imposed on
passengers (maximum of $5.00 per one-way trip). This fee was suspended by Congress from June 1 through
September 30, 2003. Pursuant to authority granted to the TSA to impose additional fees on air carriers if
necessary to cover additional federal aviation security costs, the TSA has imposed an annual Security
Infrastructure Fee, which approximated $23 million for Southwest in 2002 and $18 million in 2003. This fee
was also suspended by Congress from June 1 through September 30, 2003. Like the FAA, the TSA may
impose and collect fines for violations of its regulations.
Enhanced security measures have had, and will continue to have, a significant impact on the airport
experience for passengers. While these security requirements have not impacted aircraft utilization, they have
impacted our business. The Company has invested significantly in facilities, equipment, and technology to
process Customers efficiently and restore the airport experience. The Company has implemented its
Automated Boarding Passes and RAPID CHECK-IN self service kiosks in its 59 airports to reduce the
number of lines in which a Customer must wait. During 2003, the Company also installed gate readers at all
of its airports to improve the boarding reconciliation process. In 2004, Customers will be able to check
baggage using RAPID CHECK-IN kiosks. Southwest also plans to introduce internet checkin and transfer
boarding passes at the time of checkin.
Environmental. Certain airports, including San Diego and Orange County, have established airport
restrictions to limit noise, including restrictions on aircraft types to be used, and limits on the number of
hourly or daily operations or the time of such operations. In some instances, these restrictions have caused
curtailments in service or increases in operating costs and such restrictions could limit the ability of
Southwest to expand its operations at the affected airports. Local authorities at other airports may consider
adopting similar noise regulations, but such regulations are subject to the provisions of the Airport Noise and
Capacity Act of 1990 and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Operations at John Wayne Airport, Orange County, California, are governed by the Airport's Phase 2
Commercial Airline Access Plan and Regulation (the "Plan"). Pursuant to the Plan, each airline is allocated
total annual seat capacity to be operated at the airport, subject to renewal/reallocation on an annual basis.
Service at this airport may be adjusted annually to meet these requirements.
The Company is subject to various other federal, state, and local laws and regulations relating to the
protection of the environment, including the discharge or disposal of materials such as chemicals, hazardous
waste, and aircraft deicing fluid. Regulatory developments pertaining to such things as control of engine
exhaust emissions from ground support equipment and prevention of leaks from underground aircraft fueling
systems could increase operating costs in the airline industry. The Company does not believe, however, that
such environmental regulatory developments will have a material impact on the Company’s capital
expenditures or otherwise adversely effect its operations, operating costs, or competitive position.
Additionally, in conjunction with airport authorities, other airlines, and state and local environmental
regulatory agencies, the Company is undertaking voluntary investigation or remediation of soil or
groundwater contamination at several airport sites. The Company does not believe that any environmental
liability associated with such sites will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations, costs, or
profitability.
Customer Service Commitment. From time to time, the airline transportation industry has been faced
with possible legislation dealing with certain Customer service practices. As a compromise with Congress,
the industry, working with the Air Transport Association, has responded by adopting and filing with the
DOT written plans disclosing how it would commit to improving performance. Southwest Airlines
formalized its dedication to Customer Satisfaction by adopting its Customer Service Commitment, a
comprehensive plan which embodies the Mission Statement of Southwest Airlines: dedication to the highest
quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and Company
Spirit. The Customer Service Commitment can be reviewed by clicking on “About SWA” at
www.southwest.com. Congress is expected to monitor the effects of the industry’s plans, and there can be no
assurance that legislation will not be proposed in the future to regulate airline Customer service practices.
Marketing and Competition
Southwest focuses principally on point-to-point, rather than hub-and-spoke, service in markets with
frequent, conveniently timed flights and low fares. At year-end, Southwest served 337 nonstop city pairs.
Southwest’s average aircraft trip stage length in 2003 was 558 miles with an average duration of
approximately 1.5 hours. Examples of markets offering frequent daily flights are: Dallas to Houston, 35
weekday roundtrips; Phoenix to Las Vegas, 19 weekday roundtrips; and Los Angeles International to
Oakland, 22 weekday roundtrips. Southwest complements these high-frequency shorthaul routes with
longhaul nonstop service between markets such as Baltimore and Los Angeles, Phoenix and Tampa Bay,
Seattle and Nashville, and Houston and Oakland.
Southwest's point-to-point route system, as compared to hub-and-spoke, provides for more direct
nonstop routings for Customers and, therefore, minimizes connections, delays, and total trip time. Southwest
focuses on nonstop, not connecting, traffic. As a result, approximately 79 percent of the Company's
Customers fly nonstop. In addition, Southwest serves many conveniently located satellite or downtown
airports such as Dallas Love Field, Houston Hobby, Chicago Midway, Baltimore-Washington International,
Burbank, Manchester, Oakland, San Jose, Providence, Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood and Long Island Islip
airports, which are typically less congested than other airlines' hub airports and enhance the Company's
ability to sustain high Employee productivity and reliable ontime performance. This operating strategy also
permits the Company to achieve high asset utilization. Aircraft are scheduled to minimize the amount of
time the aircraft are at the gate, currently approximately 25 minutes, thereby reducing the number of aircraft
and gate facilities that would otherwise be required. The Company operates only one aircraft type, the
Boeing 737, which simplifies scheduling, maintenance, flight operations, and training activities. Southwest
does not interline or offer joint fares with other airlines, nor have any commuter feeder relationships.
Southwest employs a relatively simple fare structure, featuring low, unrestricted, unlimited, everyday
coach fares, as well as even lower fares available on a restricted basis. The Company’s highest oneway
unrestricted walkup fare offered is $299 for any flight. Even lower walkup fares are available on
Southwest’s short and medium haul flights.
Southwest was the first major airline to introduce a Ticketless travel option, eliminating the need to
print and then process a paper ticket altogether, and the first to offer Ticketless travel through the Company’s
home page on the Internet, www.southwest.com. For the year ended December 31, 2003, more than 85
percent of Southwest's Customers chose the Ticketless travel option and approximately 54 percent of
Southwest’s passenger revenues came through its Internet site, which has become a vital part of the
Company’s distribution strategy. As part of Southwest’s cost reduction measures and due to the success of
its website, the Company has announced it will no longer pay commissions to travel agents for sales on or
after December 15, 2003.
The airline industry is highly competitive as to fares, frequent flyer benefits, routes, and service, and
some carriers competing with the Company have larger fleets and wider name recognition. Certain major
United States airlines have established marketing or codesharing alliances with each other, including
Northwest Airlines/Continental Airlines/Delta Air Lines; American Airlines/Alaska Airlines; and United
Airlines/USAirways.
After the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001, and in the face of weak demand for air service, most
major carriers (not including Southwest) significantly reduced service, grounded aircraft, and furloughed
employees. UAL, the parent of United Airlines, and US Airways sought relief from financial obligations in
bankruptcy and other, smaller carriers have ceased operation entirely. America West Airlines, USAirways,
and others received federal loan guarantees authorized by federal law and additional airlines may do so in the
future. Many carriers renegotiated collective bargaining agreements and vendor agreements, resulting in a
reduction in their costs. More recently, many major carriers have announced plans for capacity increases in
2004; likewise, smaller low cost carriers have accelerated their growth plans. While Southwest’s share of the
domestic market has continued to increase, it is not currently possible to assess the ultimate impact of all of
these events on airline competition.
The Company is also subject to varying degrees of competition from surface transportation in its
shorthaul markets, particularly the private automobile. In shorthaul air services that compete with surface
transportation, price is a competitive factor, but frequency and convenience of scheduling, facilities,
transportation safety and security procedures, and Customer Service are also of great importance to many
passengers.
Insurance
The Company carries insurance of types customary in the airline industry and at amounts deemed
adequate to protect the Company and its property and to comply both with federal regulations and certain of
the Company’s credit and lease agreements. The policies principally provide coverage for public and
passenger liability, property damage, cargo and baggage liability, loss or damage to aircraft, engines, and
spare parts, and workers’ compensation.
Following the terrorist attacks, commercial aviation insurers significantly increased the premiums
and reduced the amount of war-risk coverage available to commercial carriers. The federal government
stepped in to provide supplemental third-party war-risk insurance coverage to commercial carriers for
renewable 60-day periods, at substantially lower premiums than prevailing commercial rates and for levels of
coverage not available in the commercial market. In November 2002, Congress passed the Homeland
Security Act of 2002, which mandated the federal government to provide third party, passenger and hull war-
risk insurance coverage to commercial carriers through August 31, 2003, and which permitted such coverage
to be extended by the government through December 31, 2003. The Emergency Wartime Supplemental
Appropriations Act (see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements) extends the government's mandate
to provide war-risk insurance until August 31, 2004, and permits such coverage to be extended until
December 31, 2004. The Company is unable to predict whether the government will extend this insurance
coverage past August 31, 2004, whether alternative commercial insurance with comparable coverage will
become available at reasonable premiums, and what impact this will have on the Company’s ongoing
operations or future financial performance.
Frequent Flyer Awards
Southwest's frequent flyer program, Rapid Rewards, is based on trips flown rather than mileage.
Rapid Rewards Customers earn a flight segment credit for each one-way trip flown or two credits for each
round trip flown. Rapid Rewards Customers can also receive flight segment credits by using the services of
non-airline partners, which include car rental agencies, hotels, and credit card partners, including the
Southwest Airlines Bank One (formerly First USA
(R)
) Visa card. Rapid Rewards offers two types of travel
awards. The Rapid Rewards Award Ticket (“Award Ticket”) offers one free roundtrip travel award to any
Southwest destination after the accumulation of 16 flight segment credits within a consecutive twelve-month
period. The Rapid Rewards Companion Pass (“Companion Pass”) is granted for flying 50 roundtrips (or 100
one-way trips) on Southwest within a consecutive twelve-month period. The Companion Pass offers
unlimited free roundtrip travel to any Southwest destination for a designated companion of the qualifying
Rapid Rewards member. In order for the designated companion to use this pass, the Rapid Rewards member
must purchase a ticket or use an Award Ticket. Additionally, the Rapid Rewards member and designated
companion must travel together on the same flight.
Trips flown are valid for flight segment credits toward Award Tickets and Companion Passes for
twelve months only; Award Tickets and Companion Passes are automatically generated when earned by the
Customer rather than allowing the Customer to bank credits indefinitely; and Award Tickets and Companion
Passes are valid for one year with an automatic expiration date. “Black out” dates apply during peak holiday
periods. Unlike most of its competitors, the Company does not limit the number of seats available to holders
of Award Tickets and Companion Passes.
The Company also sells flight segment credits to business partners including credit card companies,
phone companies, hotels, and car rental agencies. These credits may be redeemed for Award Tickets having
the same program characteristics as those earned by flying.
Customers redeemed approximately 2.5 million, 2.2 million, and 1.7 million Award Tickets and
flights on Companion Passes during 2003, 2002, and 2001, respectively. The amount of free travel award
usage as a percentage of total Southwest revenue passengers carried was 7.5 percent in 2003, 6.8 percent in
2002, and 5.4 percent in 2001. The number of Award Tickets outstanding at December 31, 2003 and 2002
was approximately 1.4 million. In addition, there were approximately 5.6 million partially earned Award
Tickets as of December 31, 2003. However, due to the expected expiration of a portion of credits making up
these partial awards, not all of them will eventually turn into useable Award Tickets. Also, not all Award
Tickets will be redeemed for future travel. Since the inception of Rapid Rewards in 1987, approximately 14
percent of all Award Tickets have expired without being used. The number of Companion Passes for
Southwest outstanding at December 31, 2003 and 2002 was approximately 53,000 and 55,000, respectively.
The Company currently estimates that an average of 3 to 4 trips will be redeemed per outstanding
Companion Pass.
The Company accounts for its frequent flyer program obligations by recording a liability for the
estimated incremental cost of flight awards the Company expects to be redeemed (except for flight segment
credits sold to business partners). This method recognizes an average incremental cost to provide roundtrip
transportation to one additional passenger. The estimated incremental cost includes direct passenger costs
such as fuel, food, and other operational costs, but does not include any contribution to overhead or profit.
The incremental cost is accrued at the time an award is earned and revenue is subsequently recognized, at the
amount accrued, when the free travel award is used. Revenue from the sale of flight segment credits and
associated with future travel is deferred and recognized when the ultimate free travel award is flown or the
credits expire unused. Accordingly, Southwest does not accrue incremental cost for the expected redemption
of free travel awards for credits sold to business partners. The liability for free travel awards earned but not
used at December 31, 2003 and 2002 was not material.
Employees
At December 31, 2003, Southwest had 32,847 active Employees, consisting of 10,854 flight, 1,956
maintenance, 15,949 ground Customer and fleet service and 4,088 management, accounting, marketing, and
clerical personnel.
Southwest has ten collective bargaining agreements covering approximately 80.2 percent of its
Employees. The following table sets forth the Company’s Employee groups and collective bargaining status:
Employee Group Represented by Agreement amendable on
Customer Service and
Reservations
International Association of Machinists
and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO
November 2008 (or 2006 at the
Union’s option under certain
conditions)
Flight Attendants Transportation Workers of America,
AFL-CIO (“TWU”)
In negotiations
Ramp, Operations and
Provisioning
TWU June 2008 (or 2006 at the Union’s
option under certain conditions)
Pilots Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association September 2006
Flight Dispatchers Southwest Airlines Employee Association November 2009
Aircraft Appearance Technicians Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association
(“AMFA”)
February 2009
Stock Clerks International Brotherhood of Teamsters
(“Teamsters”)
August 2008
Mechanics AMFA August 2005
Flight Simulator Technicians Teamsters November 2008
Flight/Ground School Instructors
and Flight Crew Training
Instructors
Southwest Airlines Professional
Instructors Association
December 2012
Item 2. Properties
Aircraft
Southwest operated a total of 388 Boeing 737 aircraft as of December 31, 2003, of which 89 and 7
were under operating and capital leases, respectively. The remaining 292 aircraft were owned.
Southwest was the launch Customer for the Boeing 737-700 aircraft, the newest generation of the
Boeing 737 aircraft type. The first 737-700 aircraft was delivered in December 1997 and entered revenue
service in January 1998. At December 31, 2003, Southwest had 146 Boeing 737-700 aircraft in service.
The following table details information on the 388 aircraft in the Company’s fleet as of December
31, 2003:
737 Type
Seats Average Age
(Yrs)
Number of
Aircraft
Number
Owned
Number
Leased
-200 122 21.2 23 21 2
-300 137 12.6 194 110 84
-500 122 12.7 25 16 9
-700 137 3.3 146 145 1
Totals 9.6 388 292 96
The Company currently intends to retire its fleet of 23 Boeing 737-200 aircraft by the end of first
quarter 2005.
In total, at January 29, 2004, the Company had firm orders and options to purchase Boeing 737
aircraft as follows:
Firm Orders and Options to Purchase Boeing 737-700 Aircraft
Delivery Year
Firm Orders Options Purchase Rights
2004 47* - -
2005 28 6 -
2006 22 12 -
2007 25 9 20
2008 6 25 20
2009-2012 - - 177
Totals 128 52 217
*Includes one leased aircraft to be delivered new from a third party.
Ground Facilities and Services
Southwest leases terminal passenger service facilities at each of the airports it serves, to which it has
added various leasehold improvements. The Company leases land on a long-term basis for its maintenance
centers located at Dallas Love Field, Houston Hobby, Phoenix Sky Harbor, and Chicago Midway, its training
center near Love Field, which houses six 737 simulators, and its corporate headquarters, also located near
Love Field. The maintenance, training center, and corporate headquarters buildings on these sites were built
and are owned by Southwest. At December 31, 2003, the Company operated nine reservation centers. The
reservation centers located in Little Rock, Arkansas; Chicago, Illinois; Albuquerque, New Mexico;
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Salt Lake City, Utah occupy leased space. The Company owns its Dallas,
Texas; Houston, Texas; Phoenix, Arizona; and San Antonio, Texas reservation centers. The Company
recently announced that it intends to close its Dallas, Salt Lake City, and Little Rock reservations centers on
February 28, 2004.
Southwest has entered into a concession agreement with the Town of Islip, New York which gives the
Company the right to construct, furnish, occupy, and maintain a new concourse at the airport. Once all
phases of the project are completed, the concourse could have up to a total of eight gates. Phase I of this
project, which is expected to be ready for operations in mid-2004, includes four gates. Phase II construction,
which includes an additional 4 gates, could, at the Company’s election, begin immediately upon the
completion of Phase I and could be completed in 2005. When all phases of construction are complete, the
entire new concourse will become the property of the Town of Islip. In return for constructing the new
concourse, Southwest will receive fixed-rent abatements for a total of 25 years; however, the Company will
still be required to pay variable rents for common use areas and manage the new concourse.
The Company performs substantially all line maintenance on its aircraft and provides ground support
services at most of the airports it serves. However, the Company has arrangements with certain aircraft
maintenance firms for major component inspections and repairs for its airframes and engines, which
comprise the majority of the annual aircraft maintenance costs.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims arising in the ordinary course of
business, including, but not limited to, examinations by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS
regularly examines the Company's federal income tax returns and, in the course of those examinations,
proposes adjustments to the Company's federal income tax liability reported on such returns. It is the
Company's practice to vigorously contest those proposed adjustments that it deems lacking of merit. The
Company's management does not expect that the outcome in any of its currently ongoing legal proceedings
or the outcome of any proposed adjustments presented to date by the IRS, individually or collectively, will
have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
None to be reported.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
The executive officers of Southwest, their positions, and their respective ages (as of January 1, 2004)
are as follows:
Name
Position Age
Herbert D. Kelleher Chairman of the Board 72
James F. Parker Vice Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
57
Colleen C. Barrett Director, President and Chief Operating Officer 59
Donna D. Conover Executive Vice President- Customer Service 50
Gary C. Kelly Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 48
James C. Wimberly Executive Vice President- Chief Operations Officer 50
Joyce C. Rogge Senior Vice President - Marketing 46
Ron Ricks Vice President-Governmental Affairs 54
Dave Ridley Vice President-Ground Operations 50
Executive officers are elected annually at the first meeting of Southwest's Board of Directors following
the annual meeting of shareholders or appointed by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Board
authorization. Each of the above individuals has worked for Southwest Airlines Co. for more than the past
five years.
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of
Equity Securities
Southwest's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is traded under the symbol
LUV. The high and low sales prices of the common stock on the Composite Tape and the quarterly
dividends per share paid on the common stock were:
Period
Dividend High Low
2003
1st Quarter $0.00450 $15.33 $11.72
2nd Quarter 0.00450 17.70 14.09
3rd Quarter 0.00450 18.99 15.86
4th Quarter 0.00450 19.69 15.30
2002
1st Quarter $0.00450 $22.00 $17.17
2nd Quarter 0.00450 19.35 14.85
3rd Quarter 0.00450 16.08 10.90
4th Quarter 0.00450 16.70 11.23
As of December 31, 2003, there were 12,114 holders of record of the Company's common stock.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
During 2003, Herbert D. Kelleher, Chairman of the Board, exercised unregistered options to
purchase Southwest Common Stock as follows:
Number of Shares Purchased
Exercise Price Date of Exercise Date of Option Grant
51,947
287,173
506,250
54,630
120,000
$1.00
1.00
4.64
2.24
1.00
6/16/03
6/16/03
6/16/03
6/16/03
11/19/03
1/1/92
1/1/96
1/1/96
1/1/92
1/1/96
The issuances of the above options and shares to Mr. Kelleher were deemed exempt from the
registration provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), by reason of the
provision of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act because, among other things, of the limited number of
participants in such transactions and the agreement and representation of Mr. Kelleher that he was acquiring
such securities for investment and not with a view to distribution thereof. The certificates representing the
shares issued to Mr. Kelleher contain a legend to the effect that such shares are not registered under the
Securities Act and may not be transferred except pursuant to a registration statement which has become
effective under the Securities Act or to an exemption from such registration. The issuance of such shares
was not underwritten.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table provides information as of December 31, 2003 regarding compensation plans
(including individual compensation arrangements) under which equity securities of Southwest are authorized
for issuance.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Plan Category
Number of Securities to be
Issued Upon Exercise of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights
(in thousands)
Weighted-Average Exercise
Price of Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights*
Number of Securities
Remaining Available for
Future Issuance Under Equity
Compensation Plans
(Excluding Securities Reflected
in Column (a))
(in thousands)
(a) (b) (c)
Equity Compensation
Plans Approved by
Security Holders 29,821 $10.77 18,317
Equity Compensation
Plans not Approved by
Security Holders 127,694 $10.77 36,616
Total 157,515 $10.77 54,933
*As adjusted for stock splits.
See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the material features
of the above plans. Each of the above plans provides that the number of shares with respect to which options
may be granted, and the number of shares of Common Stock subject to an outstanding option, shall be
proportionately adjusted in the event of a subdivision or consolidation of shares or the payment of a stock
dividend on Common Stock, and the purchase price per share of outstanding options shall be proportionately
revised.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
The following financial information for the five years ended December 31, 2003 has been derived
from the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. This information should be read in conjunction
with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere herein.
Years ended December 31, .
2003 2002 2001 2000 1999
Financial Data:
(In millions, except per share amounts)
Operating revenues
Operating expenses
Operating income
Other expenses(income), net
Income before income taxes
Provision for income taxes
Net income
(3)
$5,937
5,454
483
(225)
708
266
$442
$5,522
5,104
418
25
393
152
$241
$5,555
4,924
631
(197)
828
317
$511
$5,650
4,628
1,022
4
1,018
392
$626
$4,736
3,954
782
8
774
299
$ 475
Net income per share, basic
Net income per share, diluted
Cash dividends per common share
Total assets at period-end
Long-term obligations at period-end
Stockholders' equity at period-end
Operating Data:
Revenue passengers carried
Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) (000s)
Available seat miles (ASMs) (000s)
Load factor
(1)
Average length of passenger haul (miles)
Trips flown
Average passenger fare
Passenger revenue yield per RPM
Operating revenue yield per ASM
Operating expenses per ASM
Operating expenses per ASM, excluding fuel
Fuel cost per gallon (average)
Number of Employees at year-end
Size of fleet at year-end
(2)
$.56
$.54
$.0180
$9,878
$1,332
$5,052
65,673,945
47,943,066
71,790,425
66.8%
730
949,882
$87.42
11.97¢
8.27¢
7.60¢
6.44¢
72.3¢
32,847
388
$.31
$.30
$.0180
$8,954
$1,553
$4,422
63,045,988
45,391,903
68,886,546
65.9%
720
947,331
$84.72
11.77¢
8.02¢
7.41¢
6.30¢
68.0¢
33,705
375
$.67
$.63
$.0180
$8,997
$1,327
$4,014
64,446,773
44,493,916
65,295,290
68.1%
690
940,426
$83.46
12.09¢
8.51¢
7.54¢
6.36¢
70.9¢
31,580
355
$.84
$.79
$.0148
$6,670
$761
$3,451
63,678,261
42,215,162
59,909,965
70.5%
663
903,754
$85.87
12.95¢
9.43¢
7.73¢
6.38¢
78.7¢
29,274
344
$.63
$.59
$.0143
$5,654
$872
$2,836
57,500,213
36,479,322
52,855,467
69.0%
634
846,823
$79.35
12.51¢
8.96¢
7.48¢
6.55¢
52.7¢
27,653
312
__________________
(1)
Revenue passenger miles divided by available seat miles.
(2)
Includes leased aircraft.
(3)
Before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATION
Year in Review
In 2003, Southwest posted a profit for the 31st consecutive year. The Company also extended its streak of
consecutive quarterly profits to 51 periods in fourth quarter 2003. Both of these achievements are
unsurpassed in the airline industry. For the third consecutive year, the airline industry as a whole suffered a
net loss and many of the larger airlines underwent or continued massive efforts to restructure their business,
gain wage concessions from their employees, and slash costs in efforts to avoid bankruptcy or emerge from
bankruptcy. For the Company, although profitability levels have not returned to those achieved prior to the
September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, profits increased considerably versus 2002, even excluding the impact
of government grants received in both years.
Although the process has been gradual, revenue trends had shown improvement prior to the Iraq war, and
have steadily improved since major hostilities in Iraq ended in May 2003. However, air traffic remains
depressed compared to pre-September 11, 2001, levels, particularly business demand. Unit revenues
continue to run below pre-September 11, 2001, levels by more than 10 percent and the percentage of
Customers traveling on full-fares remains down from historical levels. The Company does not anticipate a
complete recovery in revenues until the economy fully recovers and there is an upturn in business travel.
The Company’s business strategy did not waver in 2003. Southwest remained committed to providing
predominantly shorthaul flights, high frequency service, low fares, point-to-point flying, and high-quality
Customer Service, all while keeping costs low. The Company also continued to complement this strategy by
adding longer haul flights, including transcontinental service.
The Company continued to respond to the many security changes imposed since the terrorist attacks and find
ways to improve Customer convenience and the airport experience. The Company has automated and
significantly streamlined the ticketing and boarding process with computer generated bag tags, automated
boarding passes, self-service boarding pass kiosks, and electronic boarding pass readers at the gate. The
Company also has made technological advancements, including the addition of functionality to its website at
www.southwest.com, and has continued to enhance its fleet interiors with a new look, including comfortable
leather seats.
The Company did not open any new cities in 2003, although it continued to improve its quality of service
between cities already served. The Company recently announced that it would begin new service to
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in May 2004, which will represent the Company’s 60
th
airport and 31
st
state to
which it flies. During 2003, the Company added 17 new 737-700 aircraft to its fleet and retired four older
737-200 aircraft, resulting in a net capacity increase of 4.2 percent. This brought the Company’s all-737
fleet to 388 aircraft at the end of 2003.
During 2003, the Company made announcements that are expected to benefit the Company’s overall cost
structure in 2004 and beyond. The Company announced it would add “blended winglets” to its fleet of 737-
700 aircraft. The addition of these wing enhancements, which began to be retrofitted on existing aircraft in
fourth quarter 2003 and are expected to take place through early 2005, will extend the range of these aircraft,
save fuel, lower engine maintenance costs, and reduce takeoff noise. New aircraft are expected to arrive with
winglets already installed beginning in August 2004. In October 2003, the Company announced it would no
longer pay commissions on travel agency sales effective December 15, 2003, consistent with virtually all
other U.S. airlines. This change in policy is expected to save the Company approximately $40 million in
2004. In November 2003, the Company also announced the consolidation of its nine Reservations Centers
into six, effective February 28, 2004. This decision was made in response to the established shift to the
internet as a preferred way of booking travel. The Company’s website, www.southwest.com, is now
accountable for more than half of passenger revenues, and, as a consequence, demand for phone contact has
dramatically decreased. The Company estimates the costs associated with this decision, approximately $20
million, will be recognized primarily in first quarter 2004. These costs are primarily related to Employee
relocation expenses and severance packages. The Company estimates that future annual operating cost
savings related to this decision will exceed the costs incurred. See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements for further information. The Company also expects to benefit from efficiencies achieved at
airports through our effort to improve the Customer experience in ticketing and boarding.
Available seat mile (ASM) capacity currently is expected to grow in the 7 to 8 percent range in 2004 with the
planned net addition of 29 aircraft. The Company currently has 47 new Boeing 737–700s scheduled for
delivery during the year and plans to retire 18 of the Company's older 737-200s.
Results of Operations
2003 Compared With 2002. The Company's consolidated net income for 2003 was $442 million ($.54 per
share, diluted), as compared to 2002 net income of $241 million ($.30 per share, diluted), an increase of $201
million or 83.4 percent. Operating income for 2003 was $483 million, an increase of $66 million, or 15.8
percent compared to 2002.
As disclosed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, results for 2003 included $271 million as
“Other gains” from the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act (Wartime Act) and results for
2002 included $48 million as “Other gains” from grants under the Air Transportation Safety and System
Stabilization Act (Stabilization Act). The Company believes that excluding the impact of these special items
will enhance comparative analysis of results. The grants were made to stabilize and support the airline
industry as a result of the devastating effects of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the 2003 war
with Iraq. Neither of these grants was indicative of the Company’s operating performance for these
respective periods, nor should they be considered in developing trend analysis for future periods. The
following table reconciles results reported in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
(GAAP) for 2003 and 2002 with results excluding the impact of the government grants received:
(in millions, except per share amounts) 2003 2002
Operating expenses, as reported 5,454$ 5,105$
Profitsharing impact of Stabilization Act grant - (7)
Profitsharing impact of Wartime Act grant (40) -
Operating expenses, excluding impact of government grants 5,414$ 5,098$
Operating income, as reported 483$ 417$
Profitsharing impact of Stabilization Act grant - 7
Profitsharing impact of Wartime Act grant 40 -
Operating income, excluding impact of government grants 523$ 424$
Net income, as reported 442$ 241$
Stabilization Act grant, net of income taxes and profitsharing - (25)
Wartime Act grant, net of income taxes and profitsharing (144) -
Net income, excluding government grants 298$ 216$
Net income per share, diluted, as reported $ .54 $ .30
Stabilization Act grant, net of income taxes and profitsharing - (.03)
Wartime Act grant, net of income taxes and profitsharing (.18) -
Net income per share, diluted, excluding government grants $ .36 $ .27
Excluding the governments grants received in both years, consolidated net income for 2003 was $298 million
($.36 per share, diluted), as compared to 2002 net income of $216 million ($.27 per share, diluted), an
increase of $82 million, or 38.0 percent. The increase was primarily due to overall higher demand for air
travel in 2003, vacation travel in particular. Operating income for 2003 was $523 million, an increase of $99
million, or 23.3 percent compared to 2002.
OPERATING REVENUES. Consolidated operating revenues increased $415 million, or 7.5 percent,
primarily due to a $400 million, or 7.5 percent, increase in passenger revenues. The increase in passenger
revenues was primarily due to a 5.6 percent increase in revenue passenger miles (RPMs) flown. Although the
Company saw a disruption in revenue and bookings due to the threat of war and from the subsequent conflict
between the United States and Iraq during the first half of 2003, demand improved following the war.
The increase in revenue passenger miles primarily was due to a 4.2 percent increase in added capacity, as
measured by available seat miles or ASMs. This was achieved through the Company’s net addition of 13 aircraft
during 2003 (net of four aircraft retirements). The Company's improved load factor for 2003 (RPMs divided by
ASMs) was 66.8 percent, compared to 65.9 percent for 2002. The improved 2003 load factor is still well below
pre-September 11, 2001, annual levels. Passenger yields for 2003 (passenger revenue divided by RPMs) were
$.1197 compared to $.1177 in 2002, an increase of 1.7 percent, due to less heavy fare discounting in 2003 by the
Company and the airline industry in general.
As the economy recovers and demand for business travel increases, the Company’s operating revenue yields
per ASM (unit revenues) gradually continue to improve. Although the first half of January 2004 showed
modest unit revenue growth, bookings suggest that January’s load factor could fall below January 2003’s
load factor of 58.0 percent.
Consolidated freight revenues increased $9 million, or 10.6 percent, primarily due to an increase in freight and
cargo units shipped. Other revenues increased $6 million, or 6.3 percent, primarily due to an increase in
commissions earned from programs the Company sponsors with certain business partners, such as the Company-
sponsored Bank One® (formerly First USA) Visa card.
OPERATING EXPENSES. Consolidated operating expenses for 2003 increased $349 million, or 6.8
percent, compared to the 4.2 percent increase in capacity. To a large extent, changes in operating expenses
for airlines are driven by changes in capacity, or ASMs. The following presents Southwest’s operating
expenses per ASM for 2003 and 2002 followed by explanations of these changes on a per-ASM basis:
Increase Percent
2003 2002 (decrease) change
Salaries, wages, and benefits 3.10 ¢ 2.89 ¢ .21 ¢ 7.3 %
Fuel and oil 1.16 1.11 .05 4.5
Maintenance materials and repai
r
.60 .57 .03 5.3
Agency commissions .07 .08 (.01) (12.5)
Aircraft rentals .25 .27 (.02) (7.4)
Landing fees and other rentals .52 .50 .02 4.0
Depreciation .53 .52 .01 1.9
Other 1.37 1.47 (.10) (6.8)
Total 7.60 ¢ 7.41 ¢ .19 ¢ 2.6 %
Operating expenses per ASM increased 2.6 percent to $.0760, primarily due to increases in salaries,
profitsharing, and jet fuel prices, after hedging gains. For first quarter 2004, excluding costs associated with the
Company’s reservations center consolidation, the Company currently expects an increase in operating expenses
per ASM compared to first quarter 2003 primarily due to higher salaries, jet fuel prices, and airport costs. Based
on the Company’s aggressive efforts to mitigate these cost pressures, unit costs should begin to decline in the
second half of 2004. For the year 2004, the Company’s goal is to, at least, keep unit costs flat with 2003.
Salaries, wages, and benefits expense per ASM increased 7.3 percent. Approximately 60 percent of the increase
was due to an increase in salaries and wages per ASM, primarily from increases in average wage rates. The
majority of the remainder of the increase was due to an increase in Employee retirement plans expense per ASM,
primarily from the increase in 2003 earnings and resulting profitsharing. The Company also expects to
experience an increase in salaries, wages, and benefits per ASM in 2004 due, in part, to restructuring charges
related to the consolidation of the Company’s reservations centers. See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements.
The Company's Flight Attendants are subject to an agreement with the TWU that became amendable in June
2002. In September 2003, the Company and the TWU requested the assistance of the National Mediation Board
in the negotiations for a new contract; however, as of the end of 2003, a mutual agreement had not been reached.
Fuel and oil expense per ASM increased 4.5 percent, primarily due to a 6.3 percent increase in the average
jet fuel cost per gallon. The average cost per gallon of jet fuel in 2003 was 72.3 cents compared to 68.0 cents
in 2002, excluding fuel related taxes but including the effects of hedging activities. The Company's 2003
and 2002 average jet fuel costs are net of approximately $171 million and $45 million in gains from hedging
activities, respectively. See Note 2 and Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. As detailed in Note
10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company has hedges in place for over 80 percent of its
anticipated fuel consumption in 2004 with a combination of derivative instruments that effectively cap prices at
about $24 per barrel, including approximately 82 percent of its anticipated requirements for first quarter 2004.
Considering current market prices and the continued effectiveness of the Company's fuel hedges, the
Company is forecasting first quarter 2004 average fuel cost per gallon to be in the 75 to 80 cent range. The
majority of the Company's near term hedge positions are in the form of option contracts, which protect the
Company in the event of rising jet fuel prices and allow the Company to benefit in the event of declining
prices.
Maintenance materials and repairs per ASM increased 5.3 percent primarily due to an increase in engine
maintenance. The Company outsources all of its engine maintenance work. Approximately half of the increase
in engine maintenance expense was for 737-300 and -500 aircraft subject to a long-term maintenance contract,
which is based on a contract rate charged per hour flown. The majority of the increase in engine expense for
these aircraft in 2003 was due to an increase in the contract rate per hour flown, predicated on increased engine
maintenance events. The other half of the increase in engine maintenance expense was for 737-700 aircraft,
which is based on a time and materials basis. Expense for these aircraft engines increased because of an increase
in repairs for these aircraft engines. Currently, the Company expects an increase in maintenance materials and
repairs expense per ASM in first quarter 2004, versus 2003, due to the number of engine repairs scheduled.
Agency commissions per ASM decreased 12.5 percent, primarily due to a decline in commissionable revenues.
The percentage of commissionable revenues decreased from approximately 20 percent in 2002 to approximately
16 percent in 2003. Approximately 54 percent of passenger revenues in 2003 were derived through the
Company’s web site at www.southwest.com versus 49 percent in 2002. In October 2003, the Company
announced it would no longer pay commissions on travel agency sales effective December 15, 2003. This
change in policy is expected to save the Company approximately $40 million in 2004.
Aircraft rentals per ASM and depreciation expense per ASM were both impacted by a higher percentage of the
aircraft fleet being owned. Aircraft rentals per ASM decreased 7.4 percent while depreciation expense per
ASM increased 1.9 percent. The Company owns all 17 of the aircraft it put into service during 2003. This,
along with the retirement of three owned and one leased aircraft, has increased the Company’s percentage of
aircraft owned or on capital lease to 77 percent at December 31, 2003, from 76 percent at December 31, 2002.
Based on the Company's scheduled 2004 capacity increases and aircraft financing plans, the Company
expects a decline in aircraft rental expense per ASM in 2004.
Landing fees and other rentals per ASM increased 4.0 percent primarily as a result of higher space rental rates
throughout the Company’s system. During 2003, many other major airlines reduced their flight capacity at
airports served by the Company. Since Southwest did not reduce its flights, the Company incurred higher airport
costs based on a greater relative share of total flights and passengers.
Other operating expenses per ASM decreased 6.8 percent. Approximately 70 percent of the decrease was due to
lower aviation insurance costs. Following the September 2001 terrorist attacks, commercial aviation insurers
significantly increased the premiums and reduced the amount of war-risk coverage available to commercial
carriers. The federal government stepped in to provide supplemental third-party war-risk insurance coverage
to commercial carriers for renewable 60-days periods, at substantially lower premiums than then-prevailing
commercial rates and for levels of coverage not available in the commercial market. In November 2002,
Congress passed the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which mandated the federal government provide third
party, passenger, and hull war-risk insurance coverage to commercial carriers through August 31, 2003, and
which permitted such coverage to be extended by the government through December 31, 2003. The
Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act (see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements)
extended the government’s mandate to provide war-risk insurance until August 31, 2004, and permits
extensions until December 31, 2004. As a result of more coverage from government insurance programs and
a more stable aviation insurance market, the Company was able to negotiate lower 2003 aviation insurance
premiums than 2002. However, aviation insurance remains substantially higher than before September 11,
2001. The majority of the remaining decrease in other operating expenses per ASM was due to reductions in
security costs from the transition of airport security to the federal government, and decreases in advertising
and personnel-related expenses. As a result of recently concluded negotiations for 2004 commercial insurance
coverage and the additional coverage provided by the government, the Company currently expects other
operating expenses per ASM to decrease again, in 2004.
OTHER. “Other expenses (income)” included interest expense, capitalized interest, interest income,
and other gains and losses. Interest expense decreased $15 million, or 14.2 percent, compared to the prior
year, primarily due to lower effective interest rates. The Company executed two interest-rate swaps in second
quarter 2003 to convert a portion of its fixed-rate debt to a lower floating rate. The Company entered into
interest rate swap agreements relating to its $385 million 6.5% senior unsecured notes due March 1, 2012
and $375 million 5.496% Class A-2 pass-through certificates due November 1, 2006. See Note 10 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the Company’s hedging activities. Excluding the
effect of any new debt offerings the Company may execute during 2004, the Company expects a decrease in
interest expense compared to 2003, due to the full year effect of the 2003 interest rate swaps, the October
2003 redemption of its $100 million senior unsecured 8 _% Notes, and the scheduled redemption of the
Company’s $175 million Aircraft Secured Notes on its due date in fourth quarter 2004. Capitalized interest
increased $16 million, or 94.1 percent, primarily as a result of higher 2003 progress payment balances for
scheduled future aircraft deliveries, compared to 2002. Based on the Company’s current schedule of progress
payments and aircraft deliveries, the Company expects progress payment balances, and corresponding
capitalized interest, to increase in 2004 compared to 2003. Interest income decreased $13 million, or 35.1
percent, primarily due to a decrease in rates earned on short-term investments. Other gains in 2003 and 2002
primarily resulted from government grants of $271 million and $48 million, respectively, received pursuant to
the Wartime and the Stabilization Acts. See Note 3 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements for
further discussion of these Acts.
INCOME TAXES. The provision for income taxes, as a percentage of income before taxes, decreased to
37.60 percent in 2003 from 38.64 percent in 2002 due to higher Company earnings in 2003 and lower effective
state income tax rates.
2002 Compared with 2001. The Company's consolidated net income for 2002 was $241 million ($.30 per
share, diluted), as compared to 2001 net income of $511 million ($.63 per share, diluted), a decrease of $270
million or 52.8 percent. Approximately 43 percent of this decrease was due to the decrease in government
grants that the Company recognized under the Stabilization Act. In 2002 and 2001, the Company recognized
$48 million (pretax) and $235 million (pretax) in government grants under the Stabilization Act. See Note 3
to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The remainder of the decrease primarily was due to the full-year
impact of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the Company and the airline industry.
Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, all U.S. commercial flight operations were suspended for
approximately three days. However, the Company continued to incur nearly all of its normal operating
expenses (with the exception of certain direct trip-related expenditures such as fuel, landing fees, etc.). The
Company canceled approximately 9,000 flights before resuming flight operations on September 14. After
operations were fully resumed, load factors and passenger yields were severely depressed, and ticket refund
activity increased. In addition, operating expenses in areas such as aviation insurance and security-related
expenses were much higher than before. From January 2001 through the end of August 2001, the Company
had earned approximately $707 million in operating income. However, for September 2001, it incurred
operating losses of $113 million, and for fourth quarter 2001, operating income was $37 million. For the full
year 2002, operating income was $417 million, a decrease of $214 million, or 33.9 percent compared to 2001
due to the full year impact the terrorist attacks had on airline industry revenue performance.
OPERATING REVENUES. Consolidated 2002 operating revenues decreased $33 million from 2001, or .6
percent, primarily due to a $38 million, or .7 percent, decrease in passenger revenues. The decrease in passenger
revenues was primarily due to lower load factors attributable to the post-September 11, 2001 reduction in
demand for air travel. The Company's load factor for 2002 was 65.9 percent, compared to 68.1 percent for 2001,
resulting from a capacity (ASM) increase of 5.5 percent versus a traffic (RPM) increase of only 2.0 percent. The
increase in ASMs was due to the net addition of 20 aircraft during 2002 (net of three aircraft retirements).
due to an increase in commissions earned from programs the Company sponsors with certain business partners,
such as the Company-sponsored Bank One® Visa card.
OPERATING EXPENSES. Consolidated operating expenses for 2002 increased $181 million, or 3.7
percent, compared to the 5.5 percent increase in capacity. To a large extent, changes in operating expenses
for airlines are driven by changes in capacity, or ASMs. The following presents Southwest’s operating
expenses per ASM for 2002 and 2001 followed by explanations of these changes on a per ASM basis:
Increase Percent
2002 2001 (decrease) change
Salaries, wages, and benefits 2
2
.89 ¢2.84¢ .05¢ 1.8%
Fuel and oil 1
1
.11 1.18 (.07) (5.9)
Maintenance materials and repairs .
.
57 .61 (.04) (6.6)
Agency commissions .
.
08 .16 (.08) (50.0)
Aircraft rentals .
.
27 .29 (.02) (6.9)
Landing fees and other rentals .
.
50 .48 .02 4.2
Depreciation .
.
52 .49 .03 6.1
Other 1
1
.47 1.49 (.02) (1.3)
Total 7
7
.41 ¢ 7.54 ¢ (.13) ¢ (1.7) %
Salaries, wages, and benefits expense per ASM increased 1.8 percent due to a 5.7 percent increase in salaries and
wages per ASM and a 7.6 percent increase in benefits expense per ASM, mostly offset by a 30.3 percent
decrease in Employee retirement plans expense per ASM. The majority of the increase in salaries and wages
was due to headcount additions outpacing the Company’s capacity growth in several operational areas, due in
part to additional security requirements at airports. The remaining portion of the increase in salaries and wages
per ASM primarily was due to higher average wage rates.
The increase in benefits expense per ASM primarily was due to higher health care costs. Employee retirement
plans expense per ASM decreased due to lower Company earnings available for profitsharing. In 2002 and
2001, earnings available for profitsharing included $48 million and $235 million, respectively, from grants
recognized under the Stabilization Act. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Fuel and oil expense per ASM decreased 5.9 percent, primarily due to a 4.0 percent decrease in the average
jet fuel cost per gallon. The average cost per gallon of jet fuel in 2002 was 68.0 cents compared to 70.9 cents
in 2001, excluding fuel related taxes but including the effects of hedging activities. The Company's 2002
and 2001 average jet fuel costs are net of approximately $45 million and $80 million in gains from hedging
activities, respectively. See Notes 2 and 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Maintenance materials and repairs per ASM decreased 6.6 percent. This decrease primarily was due to a
decrease in airframe expense resulting from fewer outsourced heavy maintenance events versus 2001. More
heavy maintenance events were performed internally in 2002, resulting in the labor costs associated with those
events being reflected in salaries and wages.
Agency commissions per ASM decreased 50.0 percent, primarily due to a change in the Company's commission
rate policy. Effective October 15, 2001, the Company reduced the commission paid to travel agents from eight
percent for Ticketless bookings and five percent for paper ticket bookings, to five percent, regardless of the type
of ticket sold. In addition, the mix of tickets sold through travel agents declined from 25 percent of total
revenues in 2001 to 20 percent in 2002, thereby reducing commissionable revenues and commission expense.
Aircraft rentals per ASM and depreciation expense per ASM were both impacted by a higher percentage of the
aircraft fleet being owned. Aircraft rentals per ASM decreased 6.9 percent while depreciation expense per
ASM increased 6.1 percent. The Company owns all 23 of the aircraft it put into service during 2002. This,
along with the retirement of one owned and two leased aircraft in 2002, increased the Company’s percentage of
aircraft owned or on capital lease to 76 percent at December 31, 2002, from 74 percent at December 31, 2001.
ASM increased 6.1 percent. The Company owns all 23 of the aircraft it put into service during 2002. This,
along with the retirement of one owned and two leased aircraft in 2002, increased the Company’s percentage of
aircraft owned or on capital lease to 76 percent at December 31, 2002, from 74 percent at December 31, 2001.
Landing fees and other rentals per ASM increased 4.2 percent primarily as a result of airport rate increases
throughout the Company’s system. Moreover, following the terrorist attacks, most other major airlines reduced
their flight schedules due to the drop in air travel. Since Southwest did not reduce its flights, the Company
incurred higher airport costs based on a greater relative share of total flights and passengers.
Other operating expenses per ASM decreased 1.3 percent despite a per-ASM increase of more than 175 percent
in aviation insurance costs. The insurance cost increases were more than offset through various cost control
measures implemented immediately following the prior year terrorist attacks, including reductions in personnel
related expenses and office expenses. Excluding insurance expense, other operating expenses per ASM
decreased 8.5 percent. Following the terrorist attacks, commercial aviation insurers significantly increased
the premiums and reduced the amount of war-risk coverage available to commercial carriers. The federal
government then stepped in to provide supplemental third-party war-risk insurance coverage to commercial
airlines, for renewable 60-days periods, at substantially lower premiums than prevailing commercial rates
during 2002 and for levels of coverage not available at that time in the commercial market.
OTHER. “Other expenses (income)” included interest expense, capitalized interest, interest income,
and other gains and losses. Interest expense increased $36 million, or 51.4 percent, compared to the prior
year, due to higher debt levels. In fourth quarter 2001, the Company issued $614 million in long-term debt
in the form of Pass Through Certificates. In first quarter 2002, the Company issued $385 million in
unsecured notes. See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on these two
borrowings. The increase in expense caused by these borrowings was partially offset by a decrease in
interest rates on the Company's floating rate debt and the July 2001 redemption of $100 million of unsecured
notes. Capitalized interest decreased $4 million, or 19.0 percent, primarily as a result of lower 2002 progress
payment balances for scheduled future aircraft deliveries, compared to 2001. Interest income decreased $6
million, or 14.0 percent, as higher invested cash balances for the year were more than offset by lower rates.
Other gains in 2002 and 2001 primarily resulted from $48 million and $235 million, respectively, received as the
Company's share of government grants under the Stabilization Act. See Note 3 to the Company's Consolidated
Financial Statements for further discussion of the Stabilization Act.
INCOME TAXES. The provision for income taxes, as a percentage of income before taxes, increased to
38.64 percent in 2002 from 38.24 percent in 2001, primarily due to the Company’s lower earnings in 2002.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Net cash provided by operating activities was $1.3 billion in 2003 compared to $520 million in 2002. For the
Company, operating cash inflows are primarily derived from providing air transportation for Customers. The
vast majority of tickets are purchased prior to the day in which travel is provided and, in some cases, several
months before the anticipated travel date. Operating cash outflows are primarily related to the recurring expenses
of operating the airline. For 2003, the increase in operating cash flows primarily was due to higher net income,
largely attributable to the $271 million government grant from the Wartime Act. Also contributing to the
increase in operating cash flows was an increase in accrued liabilities and a decrease in accounts and other
receivables. The increase in accrued liabilities primarily was due to an increase in accrued profitsharing from
higher 2003 earnings available for profitsharing. The decrease in accounts and other receivables was primarily
due to the 2003 collection of a $51 million tax refund related to the 2002 tax year. Cash generated in 2003 and
in 2002 was primarily used to finance aircraft-related capital expenditures and provide working capital.
Cash flows used in investing activities in 2003 totaled $1.2 billion compared to $603 million in 2002. Investing
activities in both years primarily consisted of payments for new 737-700 aircraft delivered to the Company and
progress payments for future aircraft deliveries. Although the Company received fewer new aircraft in 2003 (17
new 737-700s) versus 2002 (23 new 737-700s), there was a substantial increase in progress payments for future
deliveries compared to the prior year. The increase in progress payments primarily was related to aircraft to be
delivered in 2004 and 2005. During 2003, the Company accelerated the delivery for several aircraft from future
years into 2004, and exercised options for several 2004 and 2005 deliveries. These decisions resulted in an
acceleration of progress payments to the manufacturer related to the aircraft. See Note 4 to the Consolidated
Financial Statements.
Net cash used in financing activities was $48 million in 2003 compared to $382 million in 2002. Cash used in
financing activities during 2003 was primarily for the redemption of its $100 million senior unsecured 8 _%
Notes originally issued in 1991. This was mostly offset by proceeds of $93 million from the exercise of
Employee stock options. Cash used in financing activities in 2002 was primarily for the repayment of the
Company’s $475 million revolving credit facility that the Company drew down in September 2001 and for the
repayment of a special purpose trust (Trust) created in 2001. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements for more information on the Trust. These uses were partially offset by cash generated from the
issuance of $385 million in unsecured notes in March 2002. See Note 6 and Note 7 to the Consolidated
Financial Statements for more information on these financing activities.
The Company has various options available to meet its capital and operating commitments, including cash on
hand at December 31, 2003, of $1.9 billion, internally generated funds, and a $575 million bank revolving line of
credit. In addition, the Company will also consider various borrowing or leasing options to maximize earnings
and supplement cash requirements. The Company believes it has access to a wide variety of financing
arrangements because of its excellent credit ratings, unencumbered assets, modest leverage, and consistent
profitability.
The Company has two fully available unsecured revolving credit facilities from which it can borrow up to
$575 million from a group of banks. One of the facilities, for half of the total amount, was renewed for an
additional year during April 2003. This facility now expires in April 2004. The other facility, for half of the
amount, expires in April 2005. The Company expects that it will be able to renew the expiring 364-day facility
for an additional 364-day period at reasonable terms. If the Company is unable to renew, the Company’s
available credit facility will be reduced.
The Company currently has outstanding shelf registrations for the issuance of up to $1.0 billion in public
debt securities and pass through certificates, which it may utilize for aircraft financings in the future. The
Company currently expects that a portion of these securities will be issued in 2004.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS, CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, AND
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COMMITMENTS
Southwest has contractual obligations and commitments primarily with regards to future purchases of
aircraft, payment of debt, and lease arrangements. Along with the receipt of 17 new 737-700 aircraft from
Boeing in 2003, the Company exercised several options for delivery in 2004 and 2005 and accelerated the
delivery dates for several aircraft into 2004 from future years. The Company also entered into an agreement
to lease a new Boeing 737-700 from a third party beginning in 2004. The following table details the
Company’s current firm orders, options, and purchase rights for 737-700 aircraft:
As of December 31, 2003
Firm Options*
2004** 47 -
2005 28 6
2006 22 12
2007 25 29
2008 6 45
2009-2012 - 177
Total 128 269
* Includes purchase rights
** Includes one leased aircraft
The Company has the option to substitute 737-600s or -800s for the -700s. This option is applicable to aircraft
ordered from the manufacturer and must be exercised two years prior to the contractual delivery date.
The following table details information on the 388 aircraft in the Company’s fleet as of December 31, 2003:
Average Number Number Number
737 Type Seats Age (Yrs) of Aircraft Owned Leased
-200 122 21.2 23 21 2
-300 137 12.6 194 110 84
-500 122 12.7 25 16 9
-700 137 3.3 146 145 1
TOTALS 9.6 388 292 96
The Company has engaged in off-balance sheet arrangements in the leasing of aircraft. The leasing of aircraft
provides flexibility to the Company by allowing for capacity and fleet growth, without the substantial cash outlay
necessary to purchase new aircraft. Although the Company is responsible for all maintenance, insurance, and
expense associated with operating the aircraft, and retains the risk of loss for leased aircraft, it has not made any
guarantees to the lessors regarding the residual value (or market value) of the aircraft at the end of the lease
terms.
As shown above and as disclosed in Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company operates 96
aircraft that it has leased from third parties, of which 89 are operating leases. As prescribed by GAAP, assets
and obligations under operating lease are not included in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Disclosure of the contractual obligations associated with the Company’s leased aircraft are shown below as well
as in Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The following table aggregates the Company’s material expected contractual obligations and commitments as of
December 31, 2003:
2005 2007 Beyond
Contractual obligations
2004 - 2006 - 2008
2008 Total
Long-term debt (1) 196$ 658$ 110$ 511$ 1,475$
Capital lease commitments (2) 18 38 29 39 124
Operating lease commitments 283 492 392 1,328 2,495
Aircraft purchase commitments (3) 1,177 1,421 619 - 3,217
Other purchase commitments 90 133 5 - 228
Total contractual obligations 1,764$ 2,742$ 1,155$ 1,878$ 7,539$
(1) Includes current maturities, but excludes amounts associated with interest rate swap agreements
(2) Includes amounts classified as interest
(3) Firm orders from the manufacturer
Obligations by period (in millions)
The Company currently expects that it will issue a portion of its $1.0 billion in public debt securities and pass
through certificates from its outstanding shelf registrations during 2004, in order to fulfill some of its
obligations as noted above.
There were no outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility at December 31, 2003. See Note 6 to
the consolidated financial statements for more information.
In January 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $300 million of the
Company’s common stock, utilizing present and anticipated proceeds from the exercise of Employee stock
options. Repurchases will be made in accordance with applicable securities laws in the open market or in private
transactions from time to time, depending on market conditions.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States
GAAP. The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the Consolidated
Financial Statements. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires the
Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the
consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes. The Company’s estimates and assumptions
are based on historical experiences and changes in the business environment. However, actual results may
differ from estimates under different conditions, sometimes materially. Critical accounting policies and
estimates are defined as those that are both most important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial
condition and results and require management’s most subjective judgments. The Company’s most critical
accounting policies and estimates are described below.
Revenue Recognition
As described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, tickets sold for passenger air travel are
initially deferred as “Air traffic liability.” Passenger revenue is recognized and air traffic liability is reduced
when the service is provided (i.e., when the flight takes place). “Air traffic liability” represents tickets sold
for future travel dates and estimated future refunds and exchanges of tickets sold for past travel dates. The
Company’s air traffic liability balance at December 31, 2003 was $462 million.
Estimating the amount of tickets that will be refunded, exchanged, or forfeited involves some level of
subjectivity and judgment. The majority of the Company’s tickets sold are nonrefundable, which is the
primary source of forfeited tickets. According to the Company’s “Contract of Carriage”, tickets that are sold
but not flown on the travel date can be reused for another flight, up to a year from the date of sale, or can be
refunded (if the ticket is refundable). A small percentage of tickets (or partial tickets) expire unused. Fully
refundable tickets are rarely forfeited. “Air traffic liability” includes an estimate of the amount of future
refunds and exchanges, net of forfeitures for all unused tickets once the flight date has passed. These
estimates are based on historical experience over many years. The Company and members of the airline
industry have consistently applied this accounting method to estimate revenue from forfeited tickets at the
date travel is provided. Estimated future refunds and exchanges included in the air traffic liability account
are constantly evaluated based on subsequent refund and exchange activity to validate the accuracy of the
Company’s estimates with respect to forfeited tickets.
Events and circumstances outside of historical fare sale activity or historical Customer travel patterns, as
noted above, can result in actual refunds, exchanges, or forfeited tickets differing significantly from
estimates. The Company evaluates its estimates within a narrow range of acceptable amounts. If actual
refunds, exchanges, or forfeiture experience results in an amount outside of this range, estimates and
assumptions are reviewed and adjustments to “Air traffic liability” and to “Passenger revenue” are recorded
as necessary. Additional factors that may affect estimated refunds and exchanges include, but may not be
limited to, the Company’s refund and exchange policy, the mix of refundable and nonrefundable fares, and
promotional fare activity. The Company’s estimation techniques have been consistently applied from year to
year; however, as with any estimates, actual refund and exchange activity may vary from estimated amounts.
Furthermore, the Company believes it is unlikely that materially different estimates for future refunds,
exchanges, and forfeited tickets would be reported based on other reasonable assumptions or conditions
suggested by actual historical experience and other data available at the time estimates were made.
Following September 2001 and through 2002, the Company experienced fluctuations in estimated refunds
and exchanges, and correspondingly, forfeited tickets, due to many of the factors described above.
Following the terrorist events of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent temporary shutdown of U.S. air
space, Southwest temporarily suspended its normal refund policy in order to provide the highest Service to
the Company’s Customers, including the refunding of nonrefundable tickets upon Customer request. As a
result, the Company experienced refunds during September 2001 and through December 2001 far above
historical refund levels and in excess of the Company’s contractual obligations. In evaluating passenger
revenue through third quarter 2001, based on these unusually high refund levels, the Company estimated that
approximately $30 million of these refunds related to revenue previously recognized for estimated forfeited
tickets. As a result, the Company reduced third quarter 2001 “Passenger revenue” by $30 million and
restored “Air traffic liability”, accordingly.
Subsequent to third quarter 2001 and through second quarter 2002, the Company experienced a higher than
historical mix of discount, nonrefundable ticket sales. The Company also experienced changes in Customer
travel patterns resulting from various factors, including new airport security measures, concerns about further
terrorist attacks, and an uncertain economy. Consequently, the Company recorded $36 million in additional
passenger revenue in second quarter 2002 as Customers required fewer refunds and exchanges, resulting in
more forfeited tickets. During 2003, refund, exchange, and forfeiture activity returned to more historic, pre-
September 11, 2001, patterns.
Accounting for Long-Lived Assets
As of December 31, 2003, the Company had approximately $10.6 billion of long-lived assets, including $8.6
billion in flight equipment and related assets. In accounting for long-lived assets, the Company must make
estimates about the expected useful lives of the assets, the expected residual values of the assets, and the
potential for impairment based on the fair value of the assets and the cash flows they generate.
The following table shows a breakdown of the Company’s long-lived asset groups along with information
about estimated useful lives and residual values of these groups:
Estimated
Useful Life
Estimated
Residual value
Aircraft and engines 20 to 25 years 15%*
Aircraft parts Fleet life 4%
Ground property and equipment 5 to 30 years 0% - 10%
Leasehold improvements 5 years or lease term 0%
* The Company’s remaining 737-200’s, due to be retired by first quarter 2005, have residual value of 2%
In estimating the lives and expected residual values of its aircraft, the Company has primarily relied upon
actual experience with the same or similar aircraft types and recommendations from Boeing, the
manufacturer of the Company’s aircraft. Aircraft estimated useful lives are based on the number of “cycles”
flown (a “cycle” is one take-off and landing). The Company has made a conversion of cycles into years
based on both its historical and anticipated future utilization of the aircraft. Subsequent revisions to these
estimates, which can be significant, could be caused by changes to the Company’s maintenance program,
changes in utilization of the aircraft (actual cycles during a given period of time), governmental regulations
on aging aircraft, and changing market prices of new and used aircraft of the same or similar types. The
Company evaluates its estimates and assumptions each reporting period and, when warranted, adjusts these
estimates and assumptions. Generally, these adjustments are accounted for on a prospective basis through
depreciation expense, as required by GAAP.
When appropriate, the Company evaluates its long-lived assets for impairment. Factors that would indicate
potential impairment may include, but are not limited to, significant decreases in the market value of the
long-lived asset(s), a significant change in the long-lived asset’s physical condition, and operating or cash
flow losses associated with the use of the long-lived asset. While the airline industry as a whole has
experienced many of these indicators, Southwest has continued to operate all of its aircraft and continues to
experience positive cash flow. Consequently, the Company has not identified any impairments related to its
existing aircraft fleet. The Company will continue to monitor its long-lived assets and the airline operating
environment.
Financial Derivative Instruments
The Company utilizes financial derivative instruments to manage its risk associated with changing jet fuel
prices, and accounts for them under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting for
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (SFAS 133). See “Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures
about Market Risk” for more information on these risk management activities and see Notes 2 and 10 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on SFAS 133, the Company’s fuel hedging
program, and financial derivative instruments.
SFAS 133 requires that all derivatives be marked to market (fair value) and recorded on the Consolidated
Balance Sheet. The fair value of the Company’s financial derivative instruments recorded on the Company’s
Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2003, was $251 million. The financial derivative
instruments utilized by the Company primarily were a combination of collars, purchased call options, and
fixed price swap agreements. The Company does not purchase or hold any derivative instruments for trading
purposes.
The Company enters into financial derivative instruments with third party institutions in “over-the-counter”
markets. Since the majority of the Company’s financial derivative instruments are not traded on a market
exchange, the Company estimates their fair values. Depending on the type of instrument, the values are
determined by the use of present value methods or standard option value models with assumptions about
commodity prices based on those observed in underlying markets. Also, since there is not a reliable forward
market for jet fuel, the Company must estimate the future prices of jet fuel in order to measure the
effectiveness of the hedging instruments in offsetting changes to those prices, as required by SFAS 133.
Forward jet fuel prices are estimated through the observation of similar commodity futures prices (such as
crude oil and heating oil) and adjusted based on historical variations to those like commodities.
Fair values for financial derivative instruments and forward jet fuel prices are both estimated prior to the time
that the financial derivative instruments settle, and the time that jet fuel is purchased and consumed,
respectively. However, once settlement of the financial derivative instruments occurs and the hedged jet fuel
is purchased and consumed, all values and prices are known and are recognized in the financial statements.
Based on these actual results once all values and prices become known, the Company’s estimates have
proved to be materially accurate. Furthermore, since the majority of the Company’s hedges settle within 12
to 24 months from the time the Company enters into the contract for the derivative financial instrument, the
estimates being made are relatively short-term.
Estimating the fair value of these fuel hedging derivatives and forward prices for jet fuel will also result in
changes in their values from period to period and thus determine how they are accounted for under SFAS
133. To the extent that the period to period change in the estimated fair value of a fuel hedging instrument
differs from a period to period change in the estimated price of the associated jet fuel to be purchased,
ineffectiveness of the fuel hedge will result, as defined by SFAS 133. This could result in the immediate
recording of charges or income, even though the derivative instrument may not expire until a future period.
Historically, the Company has not experienced significant ineffectiveness in its fuel hedges accounted for
under SFAS 133.
SFAS 133 is a complex accounting standard with stringent requirements including the documentation of a
Company hedging strategy, statistical analysis to qualify a commodity for hedge accounting both on a
historical and a prospective basis, and strict contemporaneous documentation that is required at the time each
hedge is executed by the Company. As required by SFAS 133, the Company assesses the effectiveness of
each of its individual hedges on a quarterly basis. The Company also examines the effectiveness of its entire
hedging program on a quarterly basis utilizing statistical analysis. This analysis involves utilizing regression
and other statistical analyses that compare changes in the price of jet fuel to changes in the prices of the
commodities used for hedging purposes (crude oil and heating oil).
The Company also utilizes financial derivative instruments in the form of interest rate swap agreements.
During second quarter 2003, the Company entered into interest rate swap agreements relating to its $385
million 6.5% senior unsecured notes due March 1, 2012, and $375 million 5.496% Class A-2 pass-through
certificates due November 1, 2006. Under the first interest rate swap agreement, the Company pays the
London InterBank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus a margin every six months and receives 6.5% every six
months on a notional amount of $385 million until March 1, 2012. Under the second agreement, the
Company pays LIBOR plus a margin every six months and receives 5.496% every six months on a notional
amount of $375 million until November 1, 2006.
The Company’s interest rate swap agreements qualify as fair value hedges, as defined by SFAS 133. In
addition, these interest rate swap agreements qualify for the “shortcut” method of accounting for hedges, as
defined by SFAS 133. Under the “shortcut” method, the hedges are assumed to be perfectly effective, and
thus, there is no ineffectiveness to be recorded in earnings. The fair value of the interest rate swap
agreements, which are adjusted regularly, are recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheet, as necessary, with
a corresponding adjustment to the carrying value of the long-term debt. The fair value of the interest rate
swap agreements, excluding accrued interest, at December 31, 2003, was a liability of approximately $18
million. This amount is recorded in “Other deferred liabilities” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. In
accordance with fair value hedging, the offsetting entry is an adjustment to decrease the carrying value of
long-term debt. See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some statements in this Form 10-K (or otherwise made by the Company or on the Company’s behalf from
time to time in other reports, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, news releases,
conferences, World Wide Web postings or otherwise) which are not historical facts, may be “forward-
looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements about
Southwest’s estimates, expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies for the future, and the assumptions
underlying these forward-looking statements. Southwest uses the words "anticipates," "believes,"
"estimates," "expects," "intends," "forecasts," "may," "will," "should," and similar expressions to identify
these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience or the Company’s present expectations.
Factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to:
• Items directly linked to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, such as the adverse impact of new
airline and airport security directives on the Company’s costs and Customer demand for travel, changes
in the Transportation Security Administration's scope for managing U.S. airport security, the availability
and cost of war-risk and other aviation insurance, including the federal government's provision of third
party war-risk coverage, and the possibility of additional incidents that could cause the public to question
the safety and/or efficiency of air travel.
• War or other military actions by the U.S. or others.
• Competitive factors, such as fare sales and capacity decisions by the Company and its competitors,
changes in competitors' flight schedules, mergers and acquisitions, codesharing programs, and airline
bankruptcies.
• General economic conditions, which could adversely affect the demand for travel in general and
consumer ticket purchasing habits, as well as decisions by major freight Customers on how they allocate
freight deliveries among different types of carriers.
• Factors that could affect the Company’s ability to control its costs, such as the results of Employee labor
contract negotiations, Employee hiring and retention rates, costs for health care, the largely unpredictable
prices of jet fuel, crude oil, and heating oil, the continued effectiveness of the Company's fuel hedges,
changes in the Company's overall fuel hedging strategy, capacity decisions by the Company and its
competitors, unscheduled required aircraft airframe or engine repairs and regulatory requirements, changes
in commission policy, availability of capital markets, future financing decisions made by the Company,
and reliance on single suppliers for both the Company’s aircraft and its aircraft engines.
• Disruptions to operations due to adverse weather conditions and air traffic control-related constraints.
Caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking statements, which
represent the Company’s views only as of the date this report is filed. The Company undertakes no obligation
to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future
events, or otherwise.
Item 7A. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Southwest has interest rate risk in its floating rate debt obligations and interest rate swaps, and has
commodity price risk in jet fuel required to operate its aircraft fleet. The Company purchases jet fuel at
prevailing market prices, but seeks to manage market risk through execution of a documented hedging
strategy. Southwest has market sensitive instruments in the form of fixed rate debt instruments and financial
derivative instruments used to hedge its exposure to jet fuel price increases. The Company also operates 96
aircraft under operating and capital leases. However, leases are not considered market sensitive financial
instruments and, therefore, are not included in the interest rate sensitivity analysis below. Commitments
related to leases are disclosed in Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company does not
purchase or hold any derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. See Note 2 to the Consolidated
Financial Statements for information on the Company's accounting for its hedging program and Note 10 to
the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details on the Company's financial derivative instruments.
A-28
Fuel hedging. The Company utilizes its fuel hedges as a form of insurance against significant increases in
fuel prices. The Company believes there is significant risk in not hedging against the possibility of such fuel
price increases. The Company expects to consume 1.2 billion gallons of jet fuel in 2004. Based on this
usage, a change in jet fuel prices of just one cent per gallon would impact the Company’s “Fuel and oil
expense” by approximately $12 million per year.
The fair values of outstanding financial derivative instruments related to the Company’s jet fuel market price
risk at December 31, 2003, were net assets of $251 million. The current portion of these financial derivative
instruments, or $164 million, is classified as “Fuel hedge contracts” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The
long-term portion of these financial derivative instruments, or $87 million, is included in “Other assets.” The
fair values of the derivative instruments, depending on the type of instrument, were determined by use of
present value methods or standard option value models with assumptions about commodity prices based on
those observed in underlying markets. An immediate ten percent increase or decrease in underlying fuel-
related commodity prices from the December 31, 2003, prices would correspondingly change the fair value
of the commodity derivative instruments in place by approximately $125 million. Changes in the related
commodity derivative instrument cash flows may change by more or less than this amount based upon
further fluctuations in futures prices as well as related income tax effects. This sensitivity analysis uses
industry standard valuation models and holds all inputs constant at December 31, 2003, levels, except
underlying futures prices.
Financial market risk. Airline operators are inherently capital intensive as the vast majority of the
Company’s assets are expensive aircraft, which are long-lived. The Company’s strategy is to capitalize
conservatively and grow capacity steadily and profitably. While the Company uses financial leverage, it has
maintained a strong balance sheet and an "A" credit rating on its senior unsecured fixed-rate debt with
Standard & Poor’s and Fitch ratings agencies, and a "Baa1" credit rating with Moody's rating agency. The
Company's Aircraft Secured Notes and French Credit Agreements do not give rise to significant fair value
risk but do give rise to interest rate risk because these borrowings are floating-rate debt. In addition, as
disclosed in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, during 2003, the Company entered into
interest rate swap agreements relating to its $385 million 6.5% senior unsecured notes due March 1, 2012,
and $375 million 5.496% Class A-2 pass-through certificates due November 1, 2006. Due to these
transactions, the Company considers these debts to also be at floating rates. Although there is interest rate
risk associated with these floating rate borrowings, the risk for the Aircraft Secured Notes and French Credit
Agreements is somewhat mitigated by the fact that the Company may prepay this debt on any of the semi-
annual principal and interest payment dates. See Notes 6 and 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for
more information on the material terms of the Company’s short-term and long-term debt.
Excluding the $385 million 6.5% senior unsecured notes that were converted to a floating rate as previously
noted, the Company had outstanding senior unsecured notes totaling $300 million at December 31, 2003.
These senior unsecured notes currently have a weighted-average maturity of 9.3 years at fixed rates
averaging 7.75 percent at December 31, 2003, which is comparable to average rates prevailing for similar
debt instruments over the last ten years. The fixed-rate portion of the Company’s pass-through certificates
consists of its Class A certificates and Class B certificates, which totaled $193 million at December 31, 2003.
These Class A and Class B certificates had a weighted-average maturity of 2.3 years at fixed rates averaging
5.58 percent at December 31, 2003. The carrying value of the Company’s floating rate debt totaled $964
million, and this debt had a weighted-average maturity of 4.6 years at floating rates averaging 1.47 percent at
December 31, 2003. In total, the Company's fixed rate debt and floating rate debt represented 6.5 percent
and 13.0 percent, respectively, of total noncurrent assets at December 31, 2003.
The Company also has some risk associated with changing interest rates due to the short-term nature of its
invested cash, which totaled $1.9 billion at December 31, 2003. The Company invests available cash in
certificates of deposit, highly rated money markets, investment grade commercial paper, and other highly
rated financial instruments. Because of the short-term nature of these investments, the returns earned parallel
closely with short-term floating interest rates. The Company has not undertaken any additional actions to
cover interest rate market risk and is not a party to any other material market interest rate risk management
activities.
A hypothetical ten percent change in market interest rates as of December 31, 2003, would not have a
material effect on the fair value of the Company's fixed rate debt instruments. See Note 10 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on the fair value of the Company's financial
instruments. A change in market interest rates could, however, have a corresponding effect on the
Company's earnings and cash flows associated with its floating rate debt, invested cash, and short-term
investments because of the floating-rate nature of these items. Assuming floating market rates in effect as of
December 31, 2003, were held constant throughout a 12-month period, a hypothetical ten percent change in
A-29
those rates would correspondingly change the Company's net earnings and cash flows associated with these
items by less than $1 million. Utilizing these assumptions and considering the Company’s cash balance,
short-term investments, and floating-rate debt outstanding at December 31, 2003, an increase in rates would
have a net positive effect on the Company’s earnings and cash flows, while a decrease in rates would have a
net negative effect on the Company’s earnings and cash flows. However, a ten percent change in market
rates would not impact the Company's earnings or cash flow associated with the Company's publicly traded
fixed-rate debt.
The Company is also subject to various financial covenants included in its credit card transaction processing
agreement, the revolving credit facility, and outstanding debt agreements. Covenants included the
maintenance of minimum credit ratings and minimum asset fair values. The Company met or exceeded the
minimum standards set forth in these agreements as of December 31, 2003. However, if conditions change
and the Company failed to meet the minimum standards set forth in the agreements, it could reduce the
availability of cash under the agreements or increase the costs to keep these agreements intact as written.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(In millions, except share data) D
D
ECEMBER 31,
2003 2002
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents 1,865$ 1,815$
Accounts and other receivables 132 175
Inventories of parts and supplies, at cost 93 86
Fuel hedge contracts 164 113
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 59 43
Total current assets 2,313 2,232
Property and equipment, at cost:
Flight equipment 8,646 8,025
Ground property and equipment 1,117 1,042
Deposits on flight equipment purchase contracts 787 389
10,55
0 9,456
Less allowance for depreciation and amortization 3,107 2,810
7,443 6,646
Other assets 122 76
9,878$ 8,954$
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable 405$ 362$
Accrued liabilities 650 529
Air traffic liability 462 412
Current maturities of long-term debt 20
6 131
Total current liabilities 1,723 1,434
Long-term debt less current maturities 1,332 1,553
Deferred income taxes 1,420 1,227
Deferred gains from sale and leaseback of aircraft 168 184
Other deferred liabilities 183 134
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $1.00 par value: 2,000,000,000 shares authorized;
789,390,678 and 776,662,894 shares issued in 2003
and 2002, respectively 789 777
Capital in excess of par value 258 136
Retained earnings 3,883 3,455
Accumulated other comprehensive income 122 54
Total stockholders' equity 5,052 4,422
9,878$ 8,954$
See accompanyin
g
notes.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
(In millions, except per share amounts) 2003 2002 2001
OPERATING REVENUE
S:
Passen
g
er 5,741$ 5,341$ 5,379$
Frei
g
ht 94 85 91
Other 102 96 85
Total operating revenues 5,937 5,522 5,555
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Salaries, wa
g
es, and benefits 2,224 1,993 1,856
Fuel and oil 830 762 771
Maintenance materials and repairs 430 390 398
A
g
ency commissions 48 55 103
Aircraft rentals 183 187 192
Landin
g
fees and other rentals 372 345 311
Depreciation and amortization 384 356 318
Other operatin
g
expenses 983 1,017 976
Total operating expenses 5,454 5,105 4,924
OPERATING INCOME 483 417 631
OTHER EXPENSES (INCOME):
Interest expense 91 106 70
Capitalized interest (33) (17) (21)
Interest income (24) (37) (43)
Other (
g
ains) losses, net (259) (28) (203)
Total other expenses (income) (225) 24 (197)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 708 393 828
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES 266 152 317
NET INCOME 442$ 241$ 511$
NET INCOME PER SHARE, BASIC .56$ .31$ .67$
NET INCOME PER SHARE, DILUTED .54$ .30$ .63$
See accompanying notes.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accumulated
Capital in other
Common e
xcess of Retained comprehensive Treasury
(In millions, except per share amounts) S
S
tock par value earnings income (loss) stock Total
Balance at December 31, 2000 508$ 104$ 2,902$ -$ (63)$ 3,451$
Three-for-two stock split 254 (136) (118) - - -
Issuance of common and treasury stock
pursuant to Employee stock plans 5 29 (53) - 63 44
Tax benefit of options exercised - 54 - - - 54
Cash dividends, $.018 per share - - (14) - - (14)
Comprehensive income (loss)
Net income - - 511 - - 511
Unrealized loss on derivative instrumen
t
- - - (31) - (31)
Other - - - (1) - (1)
Total comprehensive income 479
Balance at December 31, 2001 767 51 3,228 (32) - 4,014
Issuance of common stock pursuant
to Employee stock plans 10 47 - - - 57
Tax benefit of options exercised - 38 - - - 38
Cash dividends, $.018 per share - - (14) - - (14)
Comprehensive income (loss)
Net income - - 241 - - 241
Unrealized gain on derivative instrumen
t
- - - 88 - 88
Other - - - (2) - (2)
Total comprehensive income 327
Balance at December 31, 2002 777 136 3,455 54 - 4,422
Issuance of common stock pursuant
to Employee stock plans 12 8
1 - - - 93
Tax benefit of options exercised -
41 - - - 41
Cash dividends, $.018 p
er share - - (14) - - (14)
Comprehensiv
e income (loss)
Net income - - 442 - - 442
Unrealized gain on derivative instrum
ments
- - - 66 - 66
Other - -
- 2 - 2
Total comprehensive income 510
Balance at December 31, 2003 789$ 258$ 3,883$ 122$ -$ 5,052$
See accompanying notes.
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003, 2002, AND 2001
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
(In millions)
2 0 0 3 2002 2001
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income 4 4 2$ 241$ 511$
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by operatin
g
activities:
Depreciation and amortization 3 8 4 356 318
Deferred income taxes 1 8 3 170 208
Amortization of deferred
g
ains on sale and
leaseback of aircraft ( 1 6 ) (15) (15)
Amortization of scheduled airframe inspections
and repairs 4 9 46 43
Income tax benefit from Employee stock
option exercises 4 1 38 54
Chan
g
es in certain assets and liabilities:
Accounts and other receivables 4 3 (103) 67
Other current assets ( 1 9 ) (10) (9)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 1 2 9 (149) 203
Air traffic liability 5 0 (38) 73
Other 5 0 (16) 32
Net cash provided by operating activities 1 , 3 3 6 520 1,485
CASH FLOWS FROM I
NVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment, net ( 1 , 2 3 8 ) (603) (998)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Issuance of lon
g
-term debt - 385 614
Proceeds from revolvin
g
credit facility - - 475
Proceeds from trust arran
g
ement - 119 266
Proceeds from Employee stock plans 9 3 57 44
Payments of lon
g
-term debt and capital
lease obli
g
ations ( 13 0 ) (65) (111)
Payments of trust arran
g
ement - (385) -
Payment of revolvin
g
credit facility - (475) -
Payments of cash dividends ( 1 4 ) (14) (13)
Other, net 3 (4) (5)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities ( 4 8 ) (382) 1,270
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 5 0 (465) 1,757
CASH AND CASH EQUI
VALENTS AT
BEGINNING OF PERIOD 1 , 8 1 5 2,280 523
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT
END OF PERIOD 1 , 8 6 5$ 1,815$ 2,280$
CASH PAYM
ENTS FOR:
Interest, net of amount capitalized 6 2$ 80$ 48$
Income taxes 5 1$ 3$ 66$
See accompanying notes.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2003
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
BASIS OF PRESENTATION Southwest Airlines Co. (Southwest) is a major domestic airline that provides
predominantly shorthaul, high-frequency, point-to-point, low-fare service. The Consolidated Financial
Statements include the accounts of Southwest and its wholly owned subsidiaries (the Company). All significant
intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The preparation of financial statements in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) requires management to
make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying
notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS Cash in excess of that necessary for operating requirements is invested in
short-term, highly liquid, income-producing investments. Investments with maturities of three months or less are
classified as cash and cash equivalents, which primarily consist of certificates of deposit, money market funds,
and investment grade commercial paper issued by major corporations and financial institutions. Cash and cash
equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market value.
INVENTORIES Inventories of flight equipment expendable parts, materials, and supplies are carried at average
cost. These items are generally charged to expense when issued for use.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT Depreciation is provided by the straight-line method to estimated residual
values over periods generally ranging from 20 to 25 years for flight equipment and 5 to 30 years for ground
property and equipment once the asset is placed in service. Residual values estimated for aircraft are 15 percent,
except for 737-200 aircraft, which will be retired from the Company’s fleet by the end of first quarter 2005. The
estimated residual value for these aircraft is two percent, based on current market values. Residual value
percentages for ground property and equipment range from zero to 10 percent. Property under capital leases and
related obligations are recorded at an amount equal to the present value of future minimum lease payments
computed on the basis of the Company’s incremental borrowing rate or, when known, the interest rate implicit in
the lease. Amortization of property under capital leases is on a straight-line basis over the lease term and is
included in depreciation expense.
In estimating the lives and expected residual values of its aircraft, the Company has primarily relied upon
actual experience with the same or similar aircraft types and recommendations from Boeing, the
manufacturer of the Company’s aircraft. Subsequent revisions to these estimates, which can be significant,
could be caused by changes to the Company’s maintenance program, changes in utilization of the aircraft
(actual flight hours or cycles during a given period of time), governmental regulations on aging aircraft,
changing market prices of new and used aircraft of the same or similar types, etc. The Company evaluates its
estimates and assumptions each reporting period and, when warranted, adjusts these estimates and
assumptions. Generally, these adjustments are accounted for on a prospective basis through depreciation
expense, as required by GAAP.
When appropriate, the Company evaluates its long-lived assets used in operations for impairment.
Impairment losses would be recorded when events and circumstances indicate that an asset might be
impaired and the undiscounted cash flows to be generated by that asset are less than the carrying amounts of
the asset. Factors that would indicate potential impairment include, but are not limited to, significant
decreases in the market value of the long-lived asset(s), a significant change in the long-lived asset’s physical
condition, operating or cash flow losses associated with the use of the long-lived asset, etc. While the airline
industry as a whole has experienced many of these indicators, Southwest has continued to operate all of its
aircraft and continues to experience positive cash flow.
AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE MAINTENANCE The cost of scheduled engine inspections and repairs and
routine maintenance costs for aircraft and engines are charged to maintenance expense as incurred. Scheduled
airframe inspections and repairs, known as D checks, are generally performed every ten years. Costs related to
D checks are capitalized and amortized over the estimated period benefited, presently the least of ten years, the
time until the next D check, or the remaining life of the aircraft. Modifications that significantly enhance the
operating performance or extend the useful lives of aircraft or engines are capitalized and amortized over the
remaining life of the asset.
In 2003, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants issued a Draft Statement of Position entitled "Accounting for Certain Costs and Activities
Related to Property, Plant, and Equipment
"
(Draft SOP). Among other items, the Draft SOP, as written,
would require that all D checks be expensed as incurred beginning in 2005. See Recent Accounting
Developments for further information.
REVENUE RECOGNITION Tickets sold are initially deferred as “Air traffic liability”. Passenger revenue
is recognized when transportation is provided. “Air traffic liability” primarily represents tickets sold for
future travel dates and estimated refunds and exchanges of tickets sold for past travel dates. The majority of
the Company’s tickets sold are nonrefundable. Tickets that are sold but not flown on the travel date can be
reused for another flight, up to a year from the date of sale, or refunded (if the ticket is refundable). A small
percentage of tickets (or partial tickets) expire unused. The Company estimates the amount of future refunds
and exchanges, net of forfeitures for all unused tickets once the flight date has passed. These estimates are
based on historical experience over many years. The Company and members of the airline industry have
consistently applied this accounting method to estimate revenue from forfeited tickets at the date travel is
provided. Estimated future refunds and exchanges included in the air traffic liability account are constantly
evaluated based on subsequent refund and exchange activity to validate the accuracy of the Company’s
revenue recognition method with respect to forfeited tickets.
Events and circumstances outside of historical fare sale activity or historical Customer travel patterns can
result in actual refunds, exchanges or forfeited tickets differing significantly from estimates; however, these
differences have historically not been material. Additional factors that may affect estimated refunds,
exchanges, and forfeitures include, but may not be limited to, the Company’s refund and exchange policy,
the mix of refundable and nonrefundable fares, and fare sale activity. The Company’s estimation techniques
have been consistently applied from year to year; however, as with any estimates, actual refund and
exchange activity may vary from estimated amounts.
Subsequent to third quarter 2001 and through second quarter 2002, the Company experienced a higher than
historical mix of discount, nonrefundable ticket sales. The Company also experienced changes in Customer
travel patterns resulting from various factors, including new airport security measures, concerns about further
terrorist attacks, and an uncertain economy. Consequently, the Company recorded $36 million in additional
passenger revenue in second quarter 2002 as Customers required fewer refunds and exchanges, resulting in
more forfeited tickets. During 2003, refund, exchange, and forfeiture activity returned to more historic, pre-
September 11, 2001, patterns.
FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAM The Company accrues the estimated incremental cost of providing free
travel for awards earned under its Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program. The Company also sells frequent
flyer credits and related services to companies participating in its Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program.
Funds received from the sale of flight segment credits and associated with future travel are deferred and
recognized as “Passenger revenue” when the ultimate free travel awards are flown or the credits expire
unused.
ADVERTISING The Company expenses the costs of advertising as incurred. Advertising expense for the years
ended December 31, 2003, 2002, and 2001 was $155 million, $156 million, and $148 million, respectively.
STOCK-BASED EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION The Company has stock-based compensation plans
covering the majority of its Employee groups, including a plan covering the Company's Board of Directors
and plans related to employment contracts with certain Executive Officers of the Company. The Company
accounts for stock-based compensation utilizing the intrinsic value method in accordance with the provisions of
Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 (APB 25), "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" and
related Interpretations. Accordingly, no compensation expense is recognized for fixed option plans because
the exercise prices of Employee stock options equal or exceed the market prices of the underlying stock on
the dates of grant. Compensation expense for other stock options is not material.
The following table represents the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied
the fair value based method and recognition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(SFAS) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, to stock-based Employee compensation:
As required, the pro forma disclosures above include options granted since January 1, 1995. Consequently,
the effects of applying SFAS 123 for providing pro forma disclosures may not be representative of the effects
on reported net income for future years until all options outstanding are included in the pro forma
disclosures. For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of stock-based compensation
plans and other options is amortized to expense primarily over the vesting period. See Note 13 for further
discussion of the Company’s stock-based Employee compensation.
In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition
and Disclosure”. SFAS No. 148 amends the transition and disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 123. Among
other items, SFAS 148 allows companies adopting SFAS 123 to utilize one of three alternative transition
methods, one of which was a “prospective method”, as defined, that was only available if adopted during
2003. To date, the Company has not adopted SFAS 123 utilizing any of the transition methods of SFAS 148.
The FASB currently is working on a project to develop a new standard for accounting for stock-based
compensation. Tentative decisions by the FASB indicate that expensing of stock options will be required
beginning January 1, 2005. The FASB expects to issue an exposure draft, which will be subject to public
comment, in first quarter 2004 and issue its final standard in the second half of 2004. See Note 13 for further
information on the Company’s stock-based compensation plans.
FINANCIAL DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS On January 1, 2001, the Company adopted Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 (SFAS 133), "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities", as amended, which governs the way it accounts for financial derivative instruments. The Company
utilizes various derivative instruments, including both crude oil and heating oil-based derivatives, to hedge a
portion of its exposure to jet fuel price increases. These instruments consist primarily of purchased call options,
collar structures, and fixed price swap agreements. The Company has also entered into interest rate swap
agreements to convert a portion of its fixed-rate debt to floating rates.
Since the majority of the Company’s financial derivative instruments are not traded on a market exchange,
the Company estimates their fair values. Depending on the type of instrument, the values are determined by
the use of present value methods or standard option value models with assumptions about commodity prices
based on those observed in underlying markets. Also, since there is not a reliable forward market for jet fuel,
the Company must estimate the future prices of jet fuel in order to measure the effectiveness of the hedging
instruments in offsetting changes to those prices, as required by SFAS 133. Forward jet fuel prices are
estimated through the observation of similar commodity futures prices (such as crude oil and heating oil) and
adjusted based on historical variations to those like commodities. See Notes 2 and 10 for further information
on SFAS 133 and financial derivative instruments.
(In millions, except per share amounts)
2003 2002 2001
Net income, as reported 442$ 241$ 511$
Add: Stock-based Employee compensation
expense included in reported income,
net of related tax effects - - -
Deduct: Total stock-based Employee
compensation expense determined under
fair value based methods for all awards,
net of related tax effects (57) (53) (25
)
Pro forma net income 385$ 188$ 486$
Net income per share
Basic, as reported .56$ .31$ .67$
Basic, pro forma .49$ .24$ .64$
Diluted, as reported .54$ .30$ .63$
Diluted, pro forma .48$ .23$ .61$
RECENT ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS In fourth quarter 2003, the Accounting Standards Executive
Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants released a Draft Statement of Position
entitled "Accounting for Certain Costs and Activities Related to Property, Plant, and Equipment" (Draft
SOP). The Draft SOP, which is expected to be issued in its final form in first quarter 2004, would become
effective for the Company January 1, 2005. The primary areas of applicability of the Draft SOP to the
Company are in the areas of planned major maintenance activities (D checks) and component accounting.
As discussed in “Aircraft and Engine Maintenance”, the Company currently capitalizes costs related to D
checks and amortizes those costs over the estimated period benefited, presently the least of ten years, the time
until the next D check, or the remaining life of the aircraft. In the Draft SOP, D checks would be considered a
planned major maintenance activity and, as such, would be expensed as incurred. During 2003, the Company
recorded $49 million in “Depreciation expense” related to previously capitalized D checks, compared to the $47
million in D check costs that were capitalized during 2003. These amounts are not necessarily indicative of those
experienced in previous periods or to be expected in future periods, however, as maintenance schedules can vary
significantly from year to year. As of December 31, 2003, the Company has $185 million, net of related
accumulated depreciation, in capitalized D checks classified as “Flight equipment” in the Consolidated Balance
Sheet. Upon the expected adoption of the Draft SOP in 2005, any remaining unamortized costs of planned major
maintenance activities (D checks) would be expensed as a cumulative effect of accounting change adjustment
(charge) in the first quarter of that year.
The Draft SOP also requires, among other things, management to establish a level of “component” accounting,
as defined, for property and equipment. The Draft SOP defines a component as a tangible part of property or
equipment that is accounted for separately and is expected to provide benefit for more than one year. Each
component of property and equipment shall be depreciated over its own separate useful life, and once it is
replaced with a new component, any remaining value would be written off to expense in the period of
replacement. Although the Company is still studying the Draft SOP as it relates to component accounting,
Southwest does not expect its future results of operation or financial position to be materially affected by the
application of component accounting.
In January 2003, FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities” (FIN 46)
which requires the consolidation of variable interest entities, as defined. FIN 46, as revised, is applicable to
financial statements of companies that have interests in “special purpose entities”, as defined, during 2003. FIN
46 is applicable to financial statements of companies that have interests in all other types of entities, in first
quarter 2004. However, disclosures are required currently if the Company expects to consolidate any variable
interest entities. The Company does not currently believe that any material entities will be consolidated with
Southwest as a result of FIN 46.
2. ACCOUNTING CHANGES
Effective January 1, 2001, the Company adopted SFAS 133. SFAS 133 requires the Company to record all
financial derivative instruments on its balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that are not designated as hedges
must be adjusted to fair value through income. If a derivative is designated as a hedge, depending on the nature
of the hedge, changes in its fair value that are considered to be effective, as defined, either offset the change in
fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities, or firm commitments through earnings or are recorded in
"Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)" until the hedged item is recorded in earnings. Any portion of
a change in a derivative's fair value that is considered to be ineffective, as defined, is recorded immediately in
"Other (gains) losses, net" in the Consolidated Statement of Income. Any portion of a change in a derivative's
fair value that the Company elects to exclude from its measurement of effectiveness is required to be recorded
immediately in earnings.
Under the rules established by SFAS 133, the Company has alternatives in accounting for its financial
derivative instruments. The Company primarily uses financial derivative instruments to hedge its exposure
to jet fuel price increases and accounts for these derivatives as cash flow hedges, as defined. In accordance
with SFAS 133, the Company must comply with detailed rules and strict documentation requirements prior
to beginning hedge accounting. As required by SFAS 133, the Company assesses the effectiveness of each
of its individual hedges on a quarterly basis. The Company also examines the effectiveness of its entire
hedging program on a quarterly basis utilizing statistical analysis. This analysis involves utilizing regression
and other statistical analyses that compare changes in the price of jet fuel to changes in the prices of the
commodities used for hedging purposes (crude oil and heating oil).
Upon adoption of SFAS 133, the Company recorded the fair value of its fuel derivative instruments in the
Consolidated Balance Sheet and a deferred
g
ain of $46 million
,
net of tax
,
in "Accumulated other com
p
rehensive
income (loss)". See Note 11 for further information on Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
During 2003, 2002, and 2001, the Company recognized $16 million in additional income, $5 million in
additional income, and $8 million in expense, respectively, in "Other (gains) losses, net", related to the
ineffectiveness of its hedges. During 2003, 2002, and 2001, the Company recognized approximately $29
million, $26 million, and $18 million, respectively, of net expense, related to amounts excluded from the
Company's measurements of hedge effectiveness, in "Other (gains) losses, net". The 2001 adoption of SFAS
133 has resulted in more volatility in the Company's financial statements than in the past due to the changes in
market values of its derivative instruments and some ineffectiveness that has been experienced in its fuel hedges.
See Note 10 for further information on the Company's derivative instruments.
3. FEDERAL GRANTS AND SPECIAL CHARGES RELATED TO TERRORIST ATTACKS
On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked and used two American Airlines, Inc. aircraft and two United Air
Lines, Inc. aircraft in terrorist attacks on the United States (terrorist attacks). As a result of these terrorist
attacks, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) immediately suspended all commercial airline flights.
From September 11 until the Company resumed flight operations on September 14, Southwest cancelled
approximately 9,000 flights.
On September 22, 2001, President Bush signed into law the Air Transportation Safety and System
Stabilization Act (Stabilization Act). The Stabilization Act provided for up to $5 billion in cash grants to
qualifying U.S. airlines and freight carriers to compensate for direct and incremental losses, as defined in the
Stabilization Act, from September 11, 2001, through December 31, 2001, associated with the terrorist
attacks. Each airline's total eligible grant was determined based on that airline's percentage of available seat
miles (ASMs) during August 2001 to total eligible carriers' ASMs for August 2001, less an amount set aside
for eligible carriers for whom the use of an ASM formula would result in an insufficient representation of
their share of direct and incremental losses.
In 2001, the Department of Transportation (DOT) made a determination of the amount of eligible direct and
incremental losses incurred by Southwest, and the Company was allotted 100 percent of its eligible grants,
totaling $283 million. The Company recognized $235 million in "Other gains" from grants under the
Stabilization Act during the second half of 2001 and recognized an additional $48 million as "Other gains"
from grants under the Stabilization Act in third quarter 2002 coincident with the receipt of its final payment.
Representatives of the DOT or other governmental agencies may perform additional audit and/or review(s)
of the Company's previously submitted final application. While the Stabilization Act is subject to significant
interpretation as to what constitutes direct and incremental losses, management believes the Company’s
eligible direct and incremental losses are sufficient to retain 100 percent of its eligible grant following
additional audits or reviews, should they occur.
The Company recorded total special charges of $48 million in 2001 arising from the terrorist attacks, which
included a $30 million reduction in "Passenger revenue." Following the terrorist events of September 11,
2001, and the subsequent temporary shutdown of U.S. air space, Southwest temporarily suspended its normal
refund policy in order to provide the highest Service to the Company’s Customers, including refunding
nonrefundable tickets upon Customer request. As a result, the Company’s refunds during September 2001
and through December 2001 were far above historical refund levels and in excess of the Company’s
contractual obligations. Refunds are recorded as a reduction in “Air traffic liability.” Based on these
unusually high refunds, the Company estimated that approximately $30 million of these refunds related to
revenue previously recognized for estimated forfeited tickets. As a result, the Company reduced third quarter
2001 “Passenger revenue” by $30 million and restored “Air traffic liability” accordingly. Total special
charges also included $13 million in "Other operating expenses", primarily related to write-downs of various
assets due to impairment. Other miscellaneous charges totaling approximately $5 million were also included
in "Other (gains) losses, net."
On April 16, 2003, as a result of the United States war with Iraq, the Emergency Wartime Supplemental
Appropriations Act (Wartime Act) was signed into law. Among other items, the legislation included a $2.3
billion government grant for airlines. Southwest received $271 million as its proportional share of the grant
during second quarter 2003. This amount is included in “Other (gains) losses” in the accompanying
Consolidated Income Statement for 2003. Also as part of the Wartime Act, the Company received
approximately $5 million as a reimbursement for the direct cost of reinforcing cockpit doors on all of the
Company’s aircraft. The Company accounted for this reimbursement as a reduction of capitalized property
and equipment.
4. COMMITMENTS
The Company's contractual purchase commitments consist primarily of scheduled aircraft acquisitions from
Boeing. The Company has contractual purchase commitments with Boeing for 46 737-700 aircraft deliveries in
2004 (plus one leased aircraft to be delivered new from a third party), 28 scheduled for delivery in 2005, 22 in
2006, 25 in 2007, and 6 in 2008. In addition, the Company has options to purchase up to 52 737-700s during
2005-2008 and purchase rights for an additional 217 737-700s during 2007-2012. The Company has the option,
which must be exercised two years prior to the contractual delivery date, to substitute 737-600s or 737-800s for
the 737-700s. As of December 31, 2003, aggregate funding needed for firm commitments is approximately $3.2
billion, subject to adjustments for inflation, due as follows: $1.2 billion in 2004, $776 million in 2005, $645
million in 2006, $524 million in 2007, and $95 million in 2008.
In November 2001, in response to decreased demand for air travel following the terrorist attacks, the Company
modified its schedule for future aircraft deliveries to defer the acquisition of 19 new 737-700 aircraft that were
either already in production at Boeing or were scheduled to be built through April 2002. The Company
accomplished this by entering into a trust arrangement with a special purpose entity (the Trust) and assigned its
purchase agreement with Boeing to the Trust with respect to the 19 aircraft originally scheduled for delivery
between September 2001 and April 2002. Southwest subsequently entered into a purchase agreement with the
Trust to purchase the aircraft at new delivery dates from January 2002 to April 2003. The Trust was formed to
facilitate the financing of the Company’s near-term aircraft purchase obligations with Boeing. The Trust
purchased 11 of the aircraft in 2001 and eight aircraft in 2002. For these 19 Trust aircraft, the Company recorded
the associated assets ("Flight equipment") and liabilities ("Aircraft purchase obligations") in its financial
statements as the aircraft were completed by Boeing and delivered to the Trust. In the Consolidated Statement of
Cash Flows, the Trust’s receipt of these aircraft was recorded as “Purchases of property and equipment” and
“Proceeds from trust arrangement.” During 2002, the Company accelerated the deliveries from the Trust and
accepted delivery of all 19 aircraft, thereby terminating the Trust. The receipt of the aircraft from the Trust was
reflected in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows as “Payments of trust arrangement”. The cost of
financing these aircraft obligations, approximately $5 million, was expensed.
5. ACCRUED LIABILITIES
(In millions) 2003 2002
Retirement plans (Note 14) $ 126 $ 71
Aircraft rentals 114 121
Vacation pay 109 96
Advances and deposits 121 80
Other
180
161
$ 650 $ 529
6. SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS
Following the terrorist attacks in September 2001, the Company borrowed the full $475 million available under
its unsecured revolving credit line with a group of banks. Borrowings under the credit line bore interest at six-
month LIBOR plus 15.5 basis points. The Company repaid this unsecured revolving credit line in full, plus
accrued interest, in March 2002. This credit facility was replaced in April 2002.
In April 2002, the Company entered into two unsecured revolving credit facilities from which it can borrow up
to $575 million from a group of banks. One of the facilities, for half of the total amount, was renewed for an
additional year during April 2003. This facility now expires in April 2004. The other facility, for half of the
amount, expires in April 2005. At the Company’s option, interest on the facilities can be calculated on one of
several different bases. For most borrowings, Southwest would anticipate choosing a floating rate based
upon LIBOR. If fully drawn, the spread over LIBOR would be 75 basis points for both facilities given
Southwest’s credit ratings at December 31, 2003. The Company expects that it will be able to renew the
expiring 364-day facility for an additional 364-day period at reasonable terms. If the Company is unable to
renew, the Company’s available credit facility will be reduced. As of December 31, 2003 and December 31,
2002, there were no outstanding amounts borrowed under either facility.
7. LONG-TERM DEBT
(In millions)
2003 2002
8 3/4% Notes due 2003 $ - $ 100
Aircraft Secured Notes due 2004 175 175
8% Notes due 2005 100 100
Pass through Certificates 564 586
7 7/8% Notes due 2007 100 100
French Credit Agreements 47 50
6 1/2% Notes due 2012 371 385
7 3/8% Debentures due 2027 100 100
Capital leases (Note 8) 91 100
1,548 1,696
Less current maturities 206 131
Less debt discount and issue costs 10 12
$ 1,332 $ 1,553
In October 2003, the Company redeemed $100 million of senior unsecured 8 3/4% Notes originally issued in
1991.
On March 1, 2002, the Company issued $385 million senior unsecured Notes (Notes) due March 1, 2012. The
Notes bear interest at 6.5 percent, payable semi-annually beginning on September 1, 2002. Southwest used
the net proceeds from the issuance of the Notes, approximately $380 million, for general corporate purposes,
including the repayment of the Company’s credit facility in March 2002. See Note 6. During 2003, the
Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement relating to these Notes. See Note 10 for further
information.
On October 30, 2001, the Company issued $614 million Pass Through Certificates consisting of $150 million
5.1% Class A-1 certificates, $375 million 5.5% Class A-2 certificates, and $89 million 6.1% Class B certificates.
A separate trust was established for each class of certificates. The trusts used the proceeds from the sale of
certificates to acquire equipment notes, which were issued by Southwest on a full recourse basis. Payments
on the equipment notes held in each trust will be passed through to the holders of certificates of such trust.
The equipment notes were issued for each of 29 Boeing 737-700 aircraft owned by Southwest and are
secured by a mortgage on such aircraft. Interest on the equipment notes held for the certificates is payable
semiannually, beginning May 1, 2002. Beginning May 1, 2002, principal payments on the equipment notes
held for the Class A-1 certificates are due semiannually until the balance of the certificates mature on May 1,
2006. The entire principal of the equipment notes for the Class A-2 and Class B certificates are scheduled
for payment on November 1, 2006. During 2003, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement
relating to the $375 million 5.5% Class A-2 certificates. See Note 10 for further information.
In fourth quarter 1999, the Company issued $200 million of floating rate Aircraft Secured Notes (the Notes), due
November 2004. The Notes are funded by a bank through a commercial paper conduit program and are secured
by eight aircraft. Interest rates on the Notes are based on the conduit's actual commercial paper rate, plus fees,
for each period and are expected to average approximately LIBOR plus 36 basis points over the term of the
Notes. Interest is payable monthly and the Company can prepay the Notes in whole or in part prior to maturity.
The Company prepaid $25 million of the Notes during 2002.
Also in fourth quarter 1999, the Company entered into two identical 13-year floating rate financing
arrangements, whereby it effectively borrowed a total of $56 million from French banking partnerships. For
presentation purposes, the Company has classified these identical borrowings as one $56 million transaction. The
effective rate of interest over the 13-year term of the loans is LIBOR plus 32 basis points. Principal and interest
are payable semi-annually on June 30 and December 31 for each of the loans and the Company may terminate
the arrangements in any year on either of those dates, with certain conditions. The Company has pledged two
aircraft as collateral for the transactions.
On February 28, 1997, the Company issued $100 million of senior unsecured 7 3/8% Debentures due March 1,
2027. Interest is payable semi-annually on March 1 and September 1. The Debentures may be redeemed, at the
option of the Company, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the
greater of the principal amount of the Debentures plus accrued interest at the date of redemption or the sum of
the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon, discounted to the date
of redemption at the comparable treasury rate plus 20 basis points, plus accrued interest at the date of
redemption.
During 1995, the Company issued $100 million of senior unsecured 8% Notes due March 1, 2005. Interest is
payable semi-annually on March 1 and September 1. The Notes are not redeemable prior to maturity.
During 1992, the Company issued $100 million of senior unsecured 7 7/8% Notes due September 1, 2007.
Interest is payable semi-annually on March 1 and September 1. The Notes are not redeemable prior to maturity.
The net book value of the assets pledged as collateral for the Company's secured borrowings, primarily aircraft
and engines, was $893 million at December 31, 2003.
As of December 31, 2003, aggregate annual principal maturities (not including interest on capital leases) for the
five-year period ending December 31, 2008 were $206 million in 2004, $143 million in 2005, $542 million in
2006, $114 million in 2007, $5 million in 2008, and $556 million thereafter.
8. LEASES
The Company had seven aircraft classified as capital leases at December 31, 2003. The amounts applicable to
these aircraft included in property and equipment were:
(In millions) 2003 2002
Flight equipment $ 171 $ 165
Less accumulated depreciation
114
106
$ 57 $ 59
Total rental expense for operating leases charged to operations in 2003, 2002, and 2001 was $386 million, $371
million, and $359 million, respectively. The majority of the Company's terminal operations space, as well as 89
aircraft, were under operating leases at December 31, 2003. Future minimum lease payments under capital
leases and noncancelable operating leases with initial or remaining terms in excess of one year at December 31,
2003, were:
(In millions)
Capital leases
Operating
leases
2004 $ 18 $ 283
2005 24 273
2006 14 219
2007 16 202
2008 13 190
After 2008 39 1,328
Total minimum lease payments 124 $ 2,495
Less amount representing interest 33
Present value of minimum
lease payments 91
Less current portion 10
Long-term portion
$ 81
The aircraft leases generally can be renewed at rates based on fair market value at the end of the lease term for
one to five years. Most aircraft leases have purchase options at or near the end of the lease term at fair market
value, generally limited to a stated percentage of the lessor's defined cost of the aircraft.
9. CONSOLIDATION OF RESERVATIONS CENTERS
In November 2003, the Company announced the consolidation of its nine Reservations Centers into six,
effective February 28, 2004. This decision was made in response to the established shift by Customers to the
internet as a preferred way of booking travel. The Company’s website, www.southwest.com, is now
responsible for more than half of ticket bookings and, as a consequence, demand for phone contact has
dramatically decreased. The Company will close its Reservations Centers located in Dallas, Texas, Salt Lake
City, Utah, and Little Rock, Arkansas. The Company is giving the 1,900 affected Employees at these
locations the opportunity to relocate to another of the Company’s remaining six centers. As of mid-January
2004, approximately 55 percent of these Employees had notified the Company that they would not relocate.
Employees choosing to not relocate have been offered support packages, which include severance pay, flight
benefits, medical coverage, and job-search assistance, depending on length of service with the Company.
The costs associated with this decision, primarily related to Employee severance packages and relocation
expenses, will be recognized primarily in first quarter 2004, in accordance with SFAS 146.
10. DERIVATIVE AND FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Fuel contracts. - Airline operators are inherently dependent upon energy to operate and, therefore, are
impacted by changes in jet fuel prices. Jet fuel and oil consumed in 2003, 2002, and 2001 represented
approximately 15.2, 14.9 percent, and 15.6 percent of Southwest’s operating expenses, respectively. The
Company endeavors to acquire jet fuel at the lowest possible cost. Because jet fuel is not traded on an
organized futures exchange, liquidity for hedging is limited. However, the Company has found that both
crude oil and heating oil contracts are effective commodities for hedging jet fuel. The Company has
financial derivative instruments in the form of the types of hedges it utilizes to decrease its exposure to jet
fuel price increases. The Company does not purchase or hold any derivative financial instruments for trading
purposes.
The Company utilizes financial derivative instruments for both short-term and long-term time frames when it
appears the Company can take advantage of market conditions. As of December 31, 2003, the Company had
a mixture of purchased call options, collar structures, and fixed price swap agreements in place to hedge
approximately 82 percent of its 2004 total anticipated jet fuel requirements, approximately 60 percent of its
2005 total anticipated jet fuel requirements, and portions of its 2006-2007 total anticipated jet fuel
requirements. As of December 31, 2003, the majority of the Company's first quarter 2004 hedges are
effectively heating oil-based positions in the form of option contracts. The majority of the remaining hedge
positions are crude oil-based positions.
During 2003, 2002, and 2001, the Company recognized gains in "Fuel and oil" expense of $171 million, $45
million, and $80 million, respectively, from hedging activities. At December 31, 2003 and 2002,
approximately $19 million and $13 million, respectively, due from third parties from expired derivative
contracts, is included in "Accounts and other receivables" in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet.
The Company accounts for its fuel hedge derivative instruments as cash flow hedges, as defined. Therefore,
all changes in fair value that are considered to be effective are recorded in "Accumulated other
comprehensive income (loss)" until the underlying jet fuel is consumed. The fair value of the Company's
financial derivative instruments at December 31, 2003, was a net asset of approximately $251 million. The
current portion of these financial derivative instruments is classified as "Fuel hedge contracts" and the long-
term portion is classified as "Other assets" in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The fair value of the
derivative instruments, depending on the type of instrument, was determined by the use of present value
methods or standard option value models with assumptions about commodity prices based on those observed
in underlying markets.
As of December 31, 2003, the Company had approximately $123 million in unrealized gains, net of tax, in
"Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)" related to fuel hedges. Included in this total are
approximately $83 million in net unrealized gains that are expected to be realized in earnings during 2004.
Interest Rate Swaps - During second quarter 2003, the Company entered into interest rate swap agreements
relating to its $385 million 6.5% senior unsecured notes due March 1, 2012, and $375 million 5.496% Class
A-2 pass-through certificates due November 1, 2006. Under the first interest rate swap agreement, the
Company pays the London InterBank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus a margin every six months and receives
6.5% every six months on a notional amount of $385 million until March 1, 2012. Under the second
agreement, the Company pays LIBOR plus a margin every six months and receives 5.496% every six months
on a notional amount of $375 million until November 1, 2006.
The Company’s interest rate swap agreements qualify as fair value hedges, as defined by SFAS 133. The
fair value of the interest rate swap agreements, which are adjusted regularly, are recorded in the Consolidated
Balance Sheet, as necessary, with a corresponding adjustment to the carrying value of the long-term debt.
The fair value of the interest rate swap agreements, excluding accrued interest, at December 31, 2003, was a
liability of approximately $18 million. This amount is recorded in “Other deferred liabilities” in the
Consolidated Balance Sheet. In accordance with fair value hedging, the offsetting entry is an adjustment to
decrease the carrying value of long-term debt. See Note 7.
Outstanding financial derivative instruments expose the Company to credit loss in the event of
nonperformance by the counterparties to the agreements. However, the Company does not expect any of the
counterparties to fail to meet their obligations. The credit exposure related to these financial instruments is
represented by the fair value of contracts with a positive fair value at the reporting date. To manage credit
risk, the Company selects and periodically reviews counterparties based on credit ratings, limits its exposure
to a single counterparty, and monitors the market position of the program and its relative market position
with each counterparty. At December 31, 2003, the Company had agreements with seven counterparties
containing early termination rights and/or bilateral collateral provisions whereby security is required if
market risk exposure exceeds a specified threshold amount or credit ratings fall below certain levels. The
Company is in the process of negotiating similar agreements with other counterparties.
The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s long-term debt at December 31, 2003 were
as follows:
(In millions)
Carrying value
Estimated fair
value
Aircraft Secured Notes due 2004 175$ 175$
8% Notes due 2005 100 107
Pass Through Certificates 564 604
7 7/8% Notes due 2007 100 116
French Credit Agreements 47 47
6 1/2% Notes due 2012 371 409
7 3/8% Debentures due 2027 100 112
The estimated fair values of the Company’s long-term debt were based on quoted market prices. The
carrying values of all other financial instruments approximate their fair value.
11. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Comprehensive income includes changes in the fair value of certain financial derivative instruments, which
qualify for hedge accounting, and unrealized gains and losses on certain investments. Comprehensive income
totaled $510 million, $327 million, and $479 million for 2003, 2002, and 2001, respectively. The differences
between Net income and Comprehensive income for these years are as follows:
(In millions)
2003
2002 2001
Net income 442$
241$ 511$
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative
instruments, net of deferred taxes of
$43, $56 and ($21)
66
88 (31
)
Other, net of deferred taxes of $1,
($1) and $0
2
(2) (1
)
Total other comprehensive income
68
86 (32
)
Comprehensive income 510$
327$ 479$
A rollforward of the amounts included in "Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)", net of taxes for
2003, 2002, and 2001, is shown below:
Fuel Accumulated oth
e
hedge comprehensive
(In millions) derivatives Other income (loss)
Balance at December 31, 2001 (31)$ (1)$ (32
)
$
2002 changes in fair value 110 (2) 108
Reclassification to earnings (22) - (22
)
Balance at December 31, 2002 57 (3) 54
2003 changes in fair value 157 2 159
Reclassification to earnings (91) - (91
)
Balance at December 31, 2003 123$ (1)$ 122$
12. COMMON STOCK
The Company has one class of common stock. Holders of shares of common stock are entitled to receive
dividends when and if declared by the Board of Directors and are entitled to one vote per share on all matters
submitted to a vote of the shareholders.
At December 31, 2003, the Company had common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to Employee stock
benefit plans (242 million shares authorized of which 55 million shares have not yet been granted) and upon
exercise of rights (408 million shares) pursuant to the Common Share Purchase Rights Agreement, as amended
(Agreement).
Pursuant to the Agreement, each outstanding share of the Company's common stock is accompanied by one
common share purchase right (Right). Each Right is exercisable only in the event of a proposed takeover, as
defined by the Agreement. The Company may redeem the Rights at $.0022 per Right prior to the time that 15
percent of the common stock has been acquired by a person or group. The Agreement is not applicable to a
fully-financed or cash tender offer for all of the Company's shares of common stock, which remains open for
at least 60 calendar days, is at a price equal to the higher of (a) 65% over the average closing price of the
common stock during the 90 days preceding the offer and (b) the highest closing price during the 52 weeks
preceding the offer, and is accompanied by a written fairness opinion of a nationally recognized investment
banking firm. If the Company is acquired, as defined in the Agreement, each Right will entitle its holder to
purchase for $3.29 that number of the acquiring company's or the Company's common shares, as provided in the
Agreement, having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. The Rights will expire no later
than July 30, 2005.
On January 18, 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a three-for-two stock split, distributing 254
million shares on February 15, 2001. Unless otherwise stated, all share and per share data presented in the
accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto have been restated to give effect to this stock
split.
In January 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $300 million of the
Company’s common stock, utilizing present and anticipated proceeds from the exercise of Employee stock
options. Repurchases will be made in accordance with applicable securities laws in the open market or in private
transactions from time to time, depending on market conditions.
13. STOCK PLANS
The Company has stock plans covering Employees subject to collective bargaining agreements (collective
bargaining plans) and stock plans covering Employees not subject to collective bargaining agreements (other
Employee plans). None of the collective bargaining plans were required to be approved by shareholders.
Options granted to Employees under collective bargaining plans are granted at or above the fair market value
of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, generally have terms ranging from six to twelve years,
and vest primarily in accordance with the period covered by the respective collective bargaining agreement.
Neither Executive Officers nor members of the Company’s Board of Directors are eligible to participate in
any of these collective bargaining plans. Options granted to Employees through other Employee plans are
granted at the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, have ten-year terms,
and vest and become fully exercisable over three, five, or ten years of continued employment, depending
upon the grant type. All of these other Employee plans have been approved by shareholders except the plan
covering non-management, non-contract Employees, which had 7.6 million options outstanding to purchase
the Company’s common stock as of December 31, 2003, and an additional plan which is not available to
Officers or Board members, reserving 15 million shares for future grants.
Aggregated information regarding the Company’s fixed stock option plans, as adjusted for stock splits, is
summarized below:
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PLANS OTHER EMPLOYEE PLANS
(In thousands, except exercise prices)
Options
Average exercise
price Options
Average exercise
price
Outstanding December 31, 2000 63,400 $ 5.59 36,358 $ 8.66
Granted 1,665 19.05 4,022 18.75
Exercised (4,166) 4.48 (4,135) 4.77
Surrendered (349) 8.71 (1,394) 10.87
Outstanding December 31, 2001 60,550 6.05 34,851 10.20
Granted 48,414 13.37 4,423 16.90
Exercised (4,211) 4.48 (3,805) 5.75
Surrendered (733) 8.69 (1,317) 12.48
Outstanding December 31, 2002 104,020 9.51 34,152 11.47
Granted 26,674 13.53 4,77
0 14.63
Exercised (7,422) 6.78 (3,318)
7.95
Surrendered (3,214) 12.69 (1,052)
13.57
Outstanding December 31, 2003 120,058 $ 10.47 34,552 $ 12
.21
Exercisable December 31, 2003 60,430 $ 7.46 16,031 $ 12.37
Available for gran
t in future periods 20,919 28,981
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding under the fixed option plans at
December 31, 2003:
OPTIONS EXERCISABLE
Range of exercise
prices
Options
outstanding at
12/31/03
(000s)
Wtd-average
remaining
contractual lif
e
Wtd-average
exercise price
Options
exercisable at
12/31/03
(000s)
Wtd-average
exercise price
$ 3.33 to $ 4.9 43,779 2.9 yrs $ 4.05 40,295 $ 4.01
$ 5.11 to $ 7.4 2,411 2.5 yrs 5.77 2,411 5.77
$ 7.86 to $11.7 12,762 4.9 yrs 9.86 6,978 9.97
$12.11 to $18.0 87,167 7.8 yrs 13.76 22,328 14.12
$18.26 to $23.9 8,491 6.3 yrs 19.61 4,449 19.84
$ 3.33 to $23.9 154,610 6.0 yrs $ 10.86 76,461 $ 8.49
OPTIONS OUTSTANDING
Under the amended 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), which has been approved by stockholders,
as of December 31, 2003, the Company is authorized to issue up to a remaining balance of 5.0 million shares
of common stock to Employees of the Company. These shares may be issued at a price equal to 90 percent
of the market value at the end of each purchase period. Common stock purchases are paid for through
periodic payroll deductions. Participants under the plan received 1.4 million shares in 2003, 1.4 million
shares in 2002, and 1.0 million shares in 2001, at average prices of $14.04, $14.70, and $16.42, respectively.
The weighted-average fair value of each purchase right under the ESPP granted in 2003, 2002, and 2001,
which is equal to the ten percent discount from the market value of the common stock at the end of each
purchase period, was $1.56, $1.63, and $1.82, respectively.
Pro forma information regarding net income and net income per share, as disclosed in Note 1, has been
determined as if the Company had accounted for its Employee stock-based compensation plans and other
stock options under the fair value method of SFAS 123. The fair value of each option grant is estimated on
the date of grant using a modified Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average
assumptions used for grants under the fixed option plans:
2003 2002 2001
Wtd-average risk-free interest rate 2.6% 3.4% 4.5%
Expected life of option (years) 4.2 5.0 5.9
Expected stock volatility 34.0% 34.0% 34.8%
Expected dividend yield 0.13% 0.13% 0.07%
The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of short-term
traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation
models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including expected stock price volatility. Because
the Company’s Employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded
options and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate,
in management’s opinion the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair
value of its Employee stock options.
The fair value of options granted under the fixed option plans during 2003 ranged from $3.33 to $8.17. The
fair value of options granted under the fixed option plans during 2002 ranged from $3.54 to $8.52. The fair
value of options granted under the fixed option plans during 2001 ranged from $5.69 to $9.11.
14. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS
The Company has defined contribution plans covering substantially all of Southwest's Employees. The
Southwest Airlines Co. Profitsharing Plan is a money purchase defined contribution plan and Employee stock
purchase plan. The Company also sponsors Employee savings plans under section 401(k) of the Internal
Revenue Code, which include Company matching contributions. The 401(k) plans cover substantially all
Employees. Contributions under all defined contribution plans are based primarily on Employee compensation
and performance of the Company.
Company contributions to all retirement plans expensed in 2003, 2002, and 2001 were $219 million, $156
million, and $215 million, respectively.
15. INCOME TAXES
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets
and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The components
of deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2003 and 2002, are as follows:
(In millions) 2
2
003 2002
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES:
Accelerated depreciation 1
1
,640$ 1,440$
Scheduled airframe maintenance 7
7
7 71
Fuel hedges 7
7
9 35
Other 1
1
9 26
Total deferred tax liabilities 1
1
,815 1,572
DEFERRED TAX ASSETS:
Deferred gains from sale and
leaseback of aircraft 8
8
9 96
Capital and operating leases 7
7
3 77
Accrued employee benefits 1
1
08 86
State taxes 4
4
7 43
Other 4
4
0 37
Total deferred tax assets 3
3
57 339
Net deferred tax liability 1
1
,458$ 1,233$
The provision for income taxes is composed of the following:
(In millions) 2
2
003 2002 2001
CURRENT:
Federal 7
7
3$ (19)$ 99$
State 1
1
0 1 10
Total current 8
8
3 (18) 109
DEFERRED:
Federal 1
1
70 157 187
State 1
1
3 13 21
Total deferred 1
1
83 170 208
2
2
66$ 152$ 317$
For the year 2002, Southwest Airlines Co. had a tax net operating loss of $163 million for federal income tax
purposes. This resulted in a federal tax refund due to utilization of this net operating loss as a carryback to
prior taxable years. This refund, estimated at $51 million at December 31, 2002, was included in “Accounts
and other receivables” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2002 and was collected in 2003.
The effective tax rate on income before income taxes differed from the federal income tax statutory rate for the
following reasons:
(In millions) 2
2
003 2002 2001
Tax at statutory
U.S. tax rates 2
2
47$ 138$ 290$
Nondeductible items 7
7
6 7
State income taxes,
net of federal benefit 1
1
5 9 20
Other, net (
(
3) (1) -
Total income
tax provision 2
2
66$ 152$ 317$
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regularly examines the Company’s federal income tax returns and, in the
course of which
,
ma
y
p
ro
p
ose ad
j
ustments to the Com
p
an
y
’s federal income tax liabilit
y
re
p
orted on such
returns. It is the Company’s practice to vigorously contest those proposed adjustments that it deems lacking
of merit. The Company's management does not expect that the outcome of any proposed adjustments
presented to date by the IRS, individually or collectively, will have a material adverse effect on the
Company's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
16. NET INCOME PER SHARE
The following table sets forth the computation of net income per share, basic and diluted:
The Company has excluded 10 million, 11 million, and 6 million shares from its calculations of net income per
share, diluted, in 2003, 2002, and 2001, respectively, as they represent antidilutive stock options for the
respective periods presented.
(In millions, except per share amounts)
2003 2002 2001
Net income 442$ 241$ 511$
Weighted-average shares
outstanding, basic 783 773 763
Dilutive effect of Employee
stock options 39 36 44
Adjusted weighted-average
shares outstanding, diluted 822 809 807
Net income per share, basic $ .56 $ .31 $ .67
Net income per share, diluted $ .54 $ .30 $ .63
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Southwest Airlines Co. as of December 31,
2003 and 2002, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each
of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003. These financial statements are the responsibility of
the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those
standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated
financial position of Southwest Airlines Co. at December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the consolidated results of its
operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003, in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, in 2001 the Company changed its method of accounting for
derivative financial instruments.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Dallas, Texas
January 21, 2004
Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
(in millions except per share amounts)
Three months ended
2003 March 31 June 30 Sept. 30 Dec. 31
Operating revenues $1,351 $1,515 $1,553 $1,517
Operating income 46 140 185 111
Income before income taxes 39 397 171 101
Net income 24 246 106 66
Net income per share, basic .03 .32 .14 .08
Net income per share,
diluted .03 .30 .13 .08
2002
March 31 June 30 Sept. 30 Dec. 31
Operating revenues $1,257 $1,473 $1,391 $1,401
Operating income 49 189 91 88
Income before income taxes 35 169 124 64
Net income 21 102 75 42
Net income per share, basic .03 .13 .10 .05
Net income per share,
diluted .03 .13 .09 .05
Item 9. Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
A-51
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
The Company maintains controls and procedures designed to ensure that it is able to collect the
information it is required to disclose in the reports it files with the SEC, and to process, summarize and
disclose this information within the time periods specified in the rules of the SEC. Based on an evaluation
of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report
conducted by the Company's management, with the participation of the Chief Executive and Chief
Financial Officers, the Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers believe that these controls and
procedures are effective to ensure that the Company is able to collect, process and disclose the information
it is required to disclose in the reports it files with the SEC within the required time periods.
Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
During the period covered by this report, there have been no changes in the Company's internal
control over financial reporting that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect
the Company's internal control over financial reporting
.
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
The information required by Item 401 of Regulation S-K regarding directors is included under
“Election of Directors” in the definitive Proxy Statement for Southwest's Annual Meeting of Shareholders
to be held May 19, 2004 and is incorporated herein by reference. The information required by Item 401 of
Regulation S-K regarding executive officers is included under “Executive Officers of the Registrant” in
Part I following Item 4 of this Report. The information required by Item 405 of Regulation S-K is included
under “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the definitive Proxy Statement for
Southwest's Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 19, 2004 and is incorporated herein by
reference.
In the wake of well-publicized corporate scandals, the Securities and Exchange Commission and
the New York Stock Exchange have issued multiple new regulations, requiring the implementation of
policies and procedures in the corporate governance area. Since beginning business in 1971, Southwest
has thrived on a culture, which encourages an entrepreneurial spirit in its Employees, and has emphasized
personal responsibility, initiative, and the use of independent, good judgment. The Golden Rule is one of
the core values, and there is a “top-down” insistence on the highest ethical standards at all times.
In complying with new regulations requiring the institution of policies and procedures, it has been
the goal of Southwest’s Board of Directors and senior leadership to do so in a way which does not inhibit
or constrain Southwest’s unique culture, and which does not unduly impose a bureaucracy of forms and
checklists. Accordingly, formal, written policies and procedures have been adopted in the simplest
possible way, consistent with legal requirements. The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, its
charters for each of its Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees, and a
revised charter for its Audit Committee and its Code of Ethics covering all Employees are available on the
Company’s website, www.southwest.com, and a copy will be mailed upon request to Sr. Director -
Investor Relations, Southwest Airlines Co., P.O. Box 36611, Dallas, TX 75235. The Company intends to
disclose any amendments to or waivers of the Code of Ethics on behalf of the Company’s Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Controller, and persons performing similar functions on the Company’s
website, at www.southwest.com under the “About SWA” caption, promptly following the date of such
amendment or waiver.
A-52
Item 11. Executive Compensation
See "Compensation of Executive Officers," incorporated herein by reference from the definitive
Proxy Statement for Southwest's Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 19, 2004.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder
Matters
See "Voting Securities and Principal Shareholders," incorporated herein by reference from the
definitive Proxy Statement for Southwest's Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May19, 2004.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
See "Election of Directors" incorporated herein by reference from the definitive Proxy Statement
for Southwest's Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 19, 2004.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
See “Relationship with Independent Auditors” incorporated herein by reference from the definitive
Proxy Statement for Southwest's Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 19, 2004.
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K
(a) 1. Financial Statements:
The financial statements included in Item 8 above are filed as part of this annual report.
2. Financial Statement Schedules:
There are no financial statement schedules filed as part of this annual report, since the
required information is included in the consolidated financial statements, including the
notes thereto, or the circumstances requiring inclusion of such schedules are not present.
3. Exhibits:
3.1 Restated Articles of Incorporation of Southwest (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to
Southwest's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 33-52155)); Amendment to Restated
Articles of Incorporation of Southwest (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Southwest’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996 (File No. 1-7259));
Amendment to Restated Articles of Incorporation of Southwest (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to Southwest’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998
(File No. 1-7259)); Amendment to Restated Articles of Incorporation of Southwest (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Southwest’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-
82735); Amendment to Restated Articles of Incorporation of Southwest (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 3.1 to Southwest’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001
(File No. 1-7259).
3.2 Bylaws of Southwest, as amended through January 2004.
A-53
4.1 364-Day Competitive Advance and Revolving Credit Facility Agreement dated as of April 23,
2002 and 3-Year Competitive Advance and Revolving Credit Facility Agreement dated as of April
23, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibits 10.2 and 10.1, respectively, to Southwest’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2002 (File No. 1-7259)); First
Amendment to 364-Day Competitive Advance and Revolving Credit Facility Agreement among
Southwest Airlines Co., the banks party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative
Agent, dated as of April 22, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to Southwest’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 (File No. 1-7259)).
4.2 Specimen certificate representing Common Stock of Southwest (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.2 to Southwest's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994
(File No. 1-7259)).
4.3 Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated July 18, 1996 between Southwest and Continental
Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1,
Southwest's Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A dated August 12, 1996 (File No. 1-7259));
Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement dated March 15, 2001 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 1 to Form 8-A Amendment No. 3 dated April 25, 2001 (File No. 1-7529)).
4.4 Indenture dated as of June 20, 1991 between Southwest Airlines Co. and Bank of New York,
successor to NationsBank of Texas, N.A. (formerly NCNB Texas National Bank), Trustee
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Southwest's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June
24, 1991 (File No. 1-7259)).
4.5 Indenture dated as of February 25, 1997 between the Company and U.S. Trust Company of Texas,
N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Southwest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1996 (File No. 1-7259)).
Southwest is not filing any other instruments evidencing any indebtedness because the total
amount of securities authorized under any single such instrument does not exceed 10% of its total
consolidated assets. Copies of such instruments will be furnished to the Securities and Exchange
Commission upon request.
10.1 Purchase Agreement No. 1810, dated January 19, 1994 between The Boeing Company and
Southwest (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Southwest's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1993 (File No. 1-7259)); Supplemental Agreement No. 1.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Southwest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1996 (File No. 1-7259)); Supplemental Agreements No. 2, 3 and 4
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Southwest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1997 (File No. 1-7259)); Supplemental Agreements Nos. 5, 6, and 7;
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Southwest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1998 (File No. 1-7259)); Supplemental Agreements Nos. 8, 9, and 10
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Southwest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1999 (File No. 1-7259)); Supplemental Agreements Nos. 11, 12, 13 and
14 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Southwest’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended September 30, 2000 (File No. 1-7259)); Supplemental Agreements Nos. 15, 16,
17, 18 and 19 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Southwest’s Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001 (File No. 1-7259)); Supplemental Agreements
Nos. 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Southwest’s Quarterly
A-54
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2002 (File No. 1-7259)); Supplemental
Agreements Nos. 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 to Purchase Agreement No. 1810, dated January 19, 1994
between The Boeing Company and Southwest (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to
Southwest’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 (File No. 1-
7259)); Supplemental Agreements Nos. 30, 31, 32, and 33 to Purchase Agreement No. 1810, dated
January 19, 1993 between The Boeing Company and Southwest.
Pursuant to 17 CFR 240.24b-2, confidential information has been omitted and has been filed
separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to a Confidential Treatment
Application filed with the Commission.
The following exhibits filed under paragraph 10 of Item 601 are the Company's compensation
plans and arrangements.
10.2 Form of Executive Employment Agreement between Southwest and certain key employees
pursuant to Executive Service Recognition Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 28 to
Southwest Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1987 (File No. 1-7259)).
10.3 1996 stock option agreements between Southwest and Herbert D. Kelleher (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.8 to Southwest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996 (File No. 1-7259)).
10.4 2001 stock option agreements between Southwest and Herbert D. Kelleher (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10 to Southwest’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2001 (File No. 1-7259)).
10.5 1991 Incentive Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Southwest’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 1-7259)).
10.6 1991 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to Southwest’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 1-7259)).
10.7 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as amended September 21, 2000 (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 4 to Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-8 (file No. 33-40653)).
10.8 Southwest Airlines Co. Profit Sharing Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to
Southwest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 (File No. 1-
729)); Amendment No. 1 to Southwest Airlines Co. Profit Sharing Plan (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.11 to Southwest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2001 (File No. 1-7259)); Amendment No. 2 to Southwest Airlines Co. Profit Sharing Plan
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to Southwest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 1-7259)); Amendment No. 3 to Southwest Airlines Co.
Profit Sharing Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Southwest’s Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 (File No. 1-7259)); Amendment No. 4 to
Southwest Airlines Co. Profit Sharing Plan.
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10.9 Southwest Airlines Co. 401(k) Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to Southwest’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 (File No. 1-7259));
Amendment No. 1 to Southwest Airlines Co. 401(k) Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.10 to Southwest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (File
No. 1-7259)); Amendment No. 2 to Southwest Airlines Co. 401(k) Plan (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.10 to Southwest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2002 (File No. 1-7259)); Amendment No. 3 to Southwest Airlines Co. 401(k) Plan (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Southwest’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
June 30, 2003 (File No. 1-7259)); Amendment No. 4 to Southwest Airlines Co. 401(k) Plan.
10.10 Southwest Airlines Co. 1995 SWAPA Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.14 to Southwest's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1994 (File No. 1-7259)).
10.11 1996 Incentive Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to Southwest’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 1-7259)).
10.12 1996 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Southwest’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 1-7259)).
10.13 Employment Agreement dated as of June 19, 2002 between Southwest and James F. Parker
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to Southwest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2001 (File No. 1-7259)).
10.14 Employment Agreement dated as of June 19, 2002 between Southwest and Colleen C. Barrett
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to Southwest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2000 (File No. 1-7259)).
10.15 Southwest Airlines Co. Outside Director Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1
to Southwest’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002 (File No. 1-
7259)).
10.16 1998 SAEA Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to
Southwest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 1-
7259)).
10.17 1999 SWAPIA Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to
Southwest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 1-
7259)).
10.18 LUV 2000 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-53610)).
A-56
10.19 2000 Aircraft Appearance Technicians Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-52388));
Amendment No. 1 to 2000 Aircraft Appearance Technicians Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Southwest’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended June 30, 2003 (File No. 1-7259)).
10.20 2000 Stock Clerks Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-52390)); Amendment No. 1 to 2000 Stock
Clerks Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Southwest’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 (File No. 1-7259)).
10.21 2000 Flight Simulator Technicians Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-53616)); Amendment No. 1 to
2000 Flight Simulator Technicians Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.6 to Southwest’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003
(File No. 1-7259)).
10.22 2002 SWAPA Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-98761)).
10.23 2002 Bonus SWAPA Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1
to Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-98761)).
10.24 2002 SWAPIA Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-100862)).
10.25 2002 Mechanics Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-100862)).
10.26 2002 Ramp, Operations, Provisioning and Freight Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to Southwest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2002 (File No. 1-7259)).
10.27 2002 Customer Service/Reservations Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.28 to Southwest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2002 (File No. 1-7259))); Amendment No. 1 to 2002 Customer Service/Reservations Non-
Qualified Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (File No. 333-104245)).
10.28 2003 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Southwest’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 (File No. 1-7259)).
14 Code of Ethics
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22 Subsidiaries of Southwest (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 22 to Southwest’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 (File No. 1-7259)).
23 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.
31.1 Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer.
31.2 Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer.
32.1 Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer.
32.2 Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer.
A copy of each exhibit may be obtained at a price of 15 cents per page, $10.00 minimum order, by writing
to: Sr. Director of Investor Relations, Southwest Airlines Co., P.O. Box 36611, Dallas, Texas 75235-1611.
(b) On October 20, 2003, Southwest filed a current report on Form 8-K to furnish the Company's
public announcement of its third quarter 2003 earnings and an announcement regarding the
payment of commissions to travel agencies.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
January 28, 2004 By /s/ Gary C. Kelly
Gary C. Kelly
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by
the following persons on January 28, 2004 on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated.
Signature Capacity
/s/ Herbert D. Kelleher Chairman of the Board of Directors
Herbert D. Kelleher
/s/ James F. Parker Chief Executive Officer and Director
James F. Parker
/s/ Colleen C. Barrett President, Chief Operating Officer and Director
Colleen C. Barrett
/s/ Gary C. Kelly Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Gary C. Kelly (Chief Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ C. Webb Crockett Director
C. Webb Crockett
/s/ William H. Cunningham Director
William H. Cunningham
/s/ William P. Hobby Director
William P. Hobby
/s/ Travis C. Johnson Director
Travis C. Johnson
/s/ R.W. King Director
R. W. King
/s/ John T. Montford Director
John T. Montford
/s/ June M. Morris Director
June M. Morris
Director
Louis Caldera
/s/ Nancy Loeffler Director
Nancy Loeffler