With all of the buzz going back and forth between DL and UA as who will become the largest carrier in the world, for what ever reason Southwest has been overlooked for this designation. Based on total enplanements (domestic and international) DL is currently #1 but is about to lose it's designation as #1 to the new United/Continental. However, based on those very same figures (see table 3 http://www.bts.gov/press_releases/20....html#table_01 ), the combined Southwest/AirTran numbers actually have a sizable lead on both carriers. So, how much would it piss DL and UA off if Southwest started touting themselves as the "largest airline in the world".. lol..

Also it would appear that in 2009 Southwest quietly already was the largest airline in the world..

Keep in mind that these numbers (combined domestic/international) are indeed the ones that they use to determine who get's to have that designation.