Two times of the year to fly cheap on SW

Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) is an American low-cost airline. Southwest is the largest airline in the world by number of passengers carried per year (as of 2007).^[1] Southwest, the 6th largest U.S. airline by revenue,^[2] maintains the third-largest passenger fleet of aircraftamong all of the world's commercial airlines. As of May 3, 2009, Southwest operates approximately 3,500 flights daily. Southwest is headquartered at 2702 Love Field Drive in the Love Field area of Dallas, Texas, adjacent to Love Field airport.^[3]

Southwest Airlines has carried more customers than any other U.S. airline since August 2006 for combined domestic and international passengers according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics.^[4] Southwest Airlines is one of the world’s most profitable airlines, posting a profit for the 36th consecutive year in January 2009.^[5] However, Southwest has posted individual quarterly losses, despite the year-end revenue posting profits.

Southwest's successful business model involves flying multiple short, quick trips into the secondary (more efficient and less costly) airports of major markets, and using only one aircraft type, the Boeing 737.