DALLAS - Southwest Airlines had resisted the kinds of cuts to its flight schedule made by other carriers. But now there's word that Southwest will eliminate nearly 200 flights early next year as it contends with with high fuel costs and a weakening economy.

The move raises doubts about the company's publicly stated goal of growing modestly next year despite the airline industry's troubles.

The Dallas-based carrier will cut 196 flights while adding only six new ones in its schedule that takes effect January 11th.

That is nearly 6 percent of the airline's daily schedule of close to 3,400 flights.

Southwest spokesman Chris Mainz told The Oregonian Tuesday that some of the eliminated flights, which span Southwest's nationwide network, could be restored later in 2009. Late winter is typically a slow travel period.

"This is a response to a slower traffic period, and we're giving ourselves some operational flexibility in the winter months," he said.