COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE

Published on March 21, 1997


EXHIBIT 11


Southwest Airlines Co.
Computation of Earnings Per Share
For the Year Ended December 31, 1996




Fully
Primary Diluted
-------------- --------------

Weighted average shares outstanding 144,745,071 144,745,071

Shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding
stock options (treasury stock method) 7,048,406 7,054,306
-------------- --------------


Weighted average common and common
equivalent shares 151,793,477 151,799,377
============== ==============


Earnings for per share computations $207,337,000 $207,337,000
============== ==============

Earnings per common and common equivalent share $1.37 $1.37
============== ==============






Exhibit 11
Page 2 of 3


Southwest Airlines Co.
Computation of Earnings Per Share
For the Year Ended December 31, 1995




Fully
Primary Diluted
------------ ------------

Weighted average shares outstanding 143,678,223 143,678,223

Shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding
stock options (treasury stock method) 5,172,289 5,202,614
------------ ------------

Weighted average common and common
equivalent shares 148,850,512 148,880,837
============ ============

Earnings for per share computations $182,626,000 $182,626,000
============ ============

Earnings per common and common equivalent share $ 1.23 $ 1.23
============ ============



Exhibit 11
Page 3 of 3


Southwest Airlines Co.
Computation of Earnings Per Share
For the Year Ended December 31, 1994




Fully
Primary Diluted
------------ ------------


Weighted average shares outstanding 143,046,509 143,046,509

Shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding
stock options (treasury stock method) 4,258,865 4,259,233
------------ ------------

Weighted average common and common
equivalent shares 147,305,374 147,305,742
============ ============

Earnings for per share computations $179,331,000 $179,331,000
============ ============

Earnings per common and common equivalent share $ 1.22 $ 1.22
============ ============