This article from NYTimes.com has been sent to you by psa188@xxxxxxxxx Southwest Airlines 4Q Profit Up 57 Pct. January 22, 2004 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Filed at 8:45 a.m. ET DALLAS (AP) -- Southwest Airlines' fourth-quarter profit rose 57 percent as revenue rose 8.3 percent. The airline said Thursday it earned $66 million, or 8 cents a share, for the October-December period, up from $42 million, or 5 cents a share, a year earlier. Operating revenues for the fourth quarter totaled $1.52 billion, up from $1.4 billion in the fourth quarter in 2002. Chief executive James F. Parker said the airline managed to stay ahead in revenues despite increasing labor and jet fuel costs that helped boost operating expenses by 7.1 percnt. ``As expected, we are experiencing some cost pressures. Our low cost competitive advantage will endure, however,'' Parker said in a statement. For the year, the airline said it earned $442 million, or 54 cents a share, compared to $241 million, or 30 cent a share, in 2002. Operating revenues increased 7.5 percent to $5.9 billion for the year from $5.5 billion a year ago. ------ On the Web: http://www.southwest.com http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Earns-Southwest-Airlines.html?ex=1075780711&ei=1&en=c733544756d924b3 --------------------------------- Get Home Delivery of The New York Times Newspaper. Imagine reading The New York Times any time & anywhere you like! Leisurely catch up on events & expand your horizons. Enjoy now for 50% off Home Delivery! Click here: http://www.nytimes.com/ads/nytcirc/index.html HOW TO ADVERTISE --------------------------------- For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or other creative advertising opportunities with The New York Times on the Web, please contact onlinesales@xxxxxxxxxxx or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help@xxxxxxxxxxxx Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company