Airline slowdown continues — recession-related?

American is laying off 469 employees, almost all at O’Hare; Southwest’s August traffic dropped 5.2 percent on a year-over-year basis, despite adding capacity. The load factor was its lowest in five years.

Recession-related? Could very well be, especially in Southwest's case, it being a darling of business travelers and all. Vacationers would flock TO Southwest during August, if anything, since it's still not charging for checked baggage.