Form: 8-K

Current report filing

October 7, 2009

Documents

Exhibit 99.1

 
CONTACT:  Investor Relations    (214) 792-4415


SOUTHWEST AIRLINES REPORTS SEPTEMBER TRAFFIC

DALLAS, TEXAS – October 7, 2009 -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the Company flew 5.8 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in September 2009, an 8.8 percent increase from the 5.3 billion RPMs flown in September 2008.  Available seat miles (ASMs) decreased 7.8 percent to 7.7 billion from the September 2008 level of 8.4 billion.  The load factor for the month was 74.7 percent, compared to 63.4 percent for the same period last year.  For September 2009, passenger revenue per ASM is estimated to have increased in the three percent range as compared to September 2008.
For the third quarter 2009, Southwest flew 19.7 billion RPMs, compared to the 18.8 billion RPMs recorded for the same period in 2008, an increase of 4.7 percent.  Available seat miles decreased 5.8 percent to 24.8 billion from the third quarter 2008 level of 26.3 billion.  The third quarter 2009 load factor was 79.6 percent, compared to 71.6 percent for the same period last year.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, Southwest flew 56.3 billion RPMs, compared to the 56.2 billion RPMs recorded for the same period in 2008, an increase of 0.1 percent.  Available seat miles decreased 4.3 percent to 74.5 billion from the 2008 level of 77.8 billion.  The year-to-date load factor was 75.6 percent, compared to 72.3 percent for the same period last year.
This press releases, as well as past releases on Southwest, are available online at southwest.com.
 
 
 
 
 
 

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  SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.  
  PRELIMINARY COMPARATIVE TRAFFIC STATISTICS  
       
                   
                   
                   
                   
   
SEPTEMBER
  
                   
   
2009
    
2008
    
CHANGE
  
                   
                   
Revenue passengers carried
     6,777,496       6,424,143       5.5 %
                         
Enplaned passengers
     7,950,437       7,353,011       8.1 %
                         
Revenue passenger miles (000)
     5,771,993       5,307,438       8.8 %
                         
Available seat miles (000)
     7,723,485       8,376,529       (7.8 )%
                         
Load factor
     74.7 %     63.4 %  
11.3 pts.
  
                         
Average length of haul
     852       826       3.1 %
                         
Trips flown
     89,497       95,947       (6.7 )%
                         
                         
                         
   
THIRD QUARTER
  
                         
      2009       2008    
CHANGE
  
                         
                         
Revenue passengers carried
     22,373,892       22,243,013       0.6 %
                         
Enplaned passengers
     26,396,360       25,686,181       2.8 %
                         
Revenue passenger miles (000)
     19,706,579       18,822,810       4.7 %
                         
Available seat miles (000)
     24,771,016       26,287,035       (5.8 )%
                         
Load factor
     79.6 %     71.6 %  
8.0 pts.
  
                         
Average length of haul
     881       846       4.1 %
                         
Trips flown
     283,663       300,537       (5.6 )%
                         
                         
                         
   
YEAR-TO-DATE
  
                         
      2009       2008    
CHANGE
  
                         
                         
Revenue passengers carried
     64,810,234       67,741,176       (4.3 )%
                         
Enplaned passengers
     75,951,788       77,945,753       (2.6 )%
                         
Revenue passenger miles (000)
     56,281,687       56,226,510       0.1 %
                         
Available seat miles (000)
     74,495,618       77,815,557       (4.3 )%
                         
Load factor
     75.6 %     72.3 %  
3.3 pts.
  
                         
Average length of haul
     868       830       4.6 %
                         
Trips flown
     852,371       898,759       (5.2 )%


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