Southwest Airlines reports record Q3 profit

Southwest Airlines has posted a record third quarter net income of $241 million, or $.34 per diluted share, compared to third quarter 2012 net income of $97 million, or $.13 per diluted share. Record third quarter net income of $259 million, or $.37 per diluted share, was also posted by the airline, which included $18 million (net) of favorable special items, compared to net income of $16 million, or $.02 per diluted share, in third quarter 2012, which included $81 million (net) of unfavorable special items. Southwest returned approximately $178 million to Shareholders during third quarter 2013 through the payment