Form: 10-Q

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

November 14, 1997

Published on November 14, 1997



EXHIBIT (11.1)
Page 1 of 4



Southwest Airlines Co.
Computation of Earnings Per Share
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 1997

Fully
Primary Diluted

Weighted average shares outstanding 146,107,201 146,107,201

Shares issuable upon exercise of
outstanding stock options
(treasury stock method) 8,325,526 9,889,530

Weighted average common and common
equivalent shares 154,432,727 155,996,731

Earnings for per share computations $92,511,000 $92,511,000

Earnings per common and common
equivalent share $0.60 $0.59



EXHIBIT (11.1)
Page 2 of 4




Southwest Airlines Co.
Computation of Earnings Per Share
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 1996

Fully
Primary Diluted

Weighted average shares outstanding 144,928,794 144,928,794

Shares issuable upon exercise of
outstanding stock options
(treasury stock method) 5,879,425 5,878,891

Weighted average common and common
equivalent shares 150,808,219 150,807,685

Earnings for per share computations $60,858,000 $60,858,000

Earnings per common and common
equivalent share $0.40 $0.40



EXHIBIT (11.1)
Page 3 of 4





Southwest Airlines Co.
Computation of Earnings Per Share
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1997

Fully
Primary Diluted

Weighted average shares outstanding 145,674,106 145,674,106

Shares issuable upon exercise of
outstanding stock options
(treasury stock method) 6,732,990 10,034,325

Weighted average common and common
equivalent shares 152,407,096 155,708,431

Earnings for per share computations $237,217,000 $237,217,000

Earnings per common and common
equivalent share $1.56 $1.52



EXHIBIT (11.1)
Page 4 of 4




Southwest Airlines Co.
Computation of Earnings Per Share
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996


Fully
Primary Diluted

Weighted average shares outstanding 144,650,014 144,650,014

Shares issuable upon exercise of
outstanding stock options
(treasury stock method) 7,645,456 7,994,033

Weighted average common and common
equivalent shares 152,295,470 152,644,047

Earnings for per share computations $179,177,000 $179,177,000

Earnings per common and common
equivalent share $1.18 $1.17