Southwest could expand overseas as early as 2012 02/03 01:37 PM

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV:$11.6314,$0.0614,0.53%) could expand its near-international destinations as early as 2012 upon the delivery of its first Boeing Co. (BA:$70.70,00$-0.3000,-0.42%) 737-800s, the company's chief financial officer said Thursday. The Dallas-based, low-cost carrier is also in the process of acquiring AirTran Holdings (AAI:$7.36,00$-0.0100,-0.14%) , which has flights to the Caribbean and provides needed experience in overseas flying, CFO Laura Wright said, during an analyst conference. "We're certainly going to learn a lot about those international markets with AirTran (AAI:$7.36,00$-0.0100,-0.14%) ," adding that the 737-800 jet is a better aircraft for expanding international markets, "should we want to."