Southwest Capacity Will Increase Only 5%

Southwest Airlines said the drop-off in flying due to recession and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks would trim its capacity growth to around 5% this year after a 13% gain in 2000.

Chief Executive Jim Parker said Southwest’s capacity in 2002, as measured by available seat miles, probably would not increase by the carrier’s past benchmark of at least 8% a year.

Shares of Dallas-based Southwest closed down 31 cents to $18.84 on the NYSE.