EXHIBIT 99.2

Exhibit 99.2

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE CHANGES


DALLAS-July 15, 2004- Southwest Airlines today announced that its
Vice Chairman of the Board and CEO, James F. Parker, had, for personal
reasons, retired effective today as CEO of Southwest and as a member of the
Southwest Board of Directors.
Herb Kelleher, Chairman of the Southwest Airlines Board, stated that
Jim Parker's decision was accepted by the Board with both deep regret and
profound gratitude to Jim for his many significant contributions to the
success of Southwest and the wellbeing of its People over the course of the
last 18 years: "Our entire Board salutes Jim for his myriad accomplishments
and for being an outstanding individual," Kelleher said. "We will all greatly
miss him."
Kelleher also announced that Gary Kelly, 49, had been selected by the
Board of Directors to succeed Parker as Vice Chairman of the Board and CEO,
as well as a member of the Board of Directors. Kelly has served as
Southwest's Executive Vice President and CFO since 2001, and joined Southwest
as its Controller in 1986, becoming Vice President Finance and CFO in 1989.
Kelleher said: "Gary Kelly is one of our brightest stars, well
respected throughout the industry and well known, over more than a decade, to
the media, analyst, and investor communities for his excellence. As part of
our Board's succession planning, we had already focused on Gary as Jim
Parker's successor, and that process has simply been accelerated by Jim's
personal decision to retire. Under Gary's leadership, Southwest has achieved
the strongest balance sheet in the American airline industry; the best fuel
hedging position in our industry; and tremendous progress in technology."
Kelleher further announced that Laura Wright, currently Vice President
Finance and Treasurer, would succeed Gary Kelly as Southwest's CFO. Laura
joined Southwest in 1988 and since 1998 has been primarily responsible for
Southwest's overall corporate finance strategy; its capital market and
aircraft financing activities; new and used aircraft acquisitions; corporate
tax and insurance programs; cash management and investing functions; and
stock option programs.
Kelleher stated: "Laura Wright is another shining star, who is also
respected throughout our industry and well known to the analyst, investor,
and vendor communities for her acumen and business judgment. We are indeed
fortunate to have such an experienced and truly talented successor to Gary
Kelly as our CFO."
Kelleher closed by emphasizing that Gary Kelly and Laura Wright take on
their additional responsibilities with many years of experience at Southwest
and that each has been responsible for major project development, planning,
and implementation; each has served on (or chaired) major committees
throughout their respective tenures with the Company; each has had
significant budget and People leadership responsibilities; each has made
major contributions to the evolving philosophies and strategies of the
Company; and each subscribes to the Company's Mission Statement as well as to
its longheld Core Values. Kelleher stated, "Although I personally regret Jim
Parker's decision to retire, I am also exceedingly pleased that Southwest has
the demonstrated depth of management talent and leadership capability that
will enable our Shareholders, Employees, and Customers to continue to be
proud to be a part of the ongoing Southwest Airlines story of success through
Legendary Customer Service."

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