Form: 8-K

Current report filing

November 5, 2009

Documents

Ex 99.1




CONTACT:  Investor Relations (214) 792-4415


SOUTHWEST AIRLINES REPORTS OCTOBER TRAFFIC


DALLAS, TEXAS – November 5, 2009 -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the Company flew 6.3 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in October 2009, a 1.9 percent increase from the 6.2 billion RPMs flown in October 2008.  Available seat miles (ASMs) decreased 9.4 percent to 8.0 billion from the October 2008 level of 8.8 billion.  The load factor for the month was 79.2 percent, compared to 70.4 percent for the same period last year.  For October 2009, passenger revenue per ASM is estimated to have increased in the one percent range as compared to October 2008.
For the ten months ended October 31, 2009, Southwest flew 62.6 billion RPMs, compared to 62.4 billion RPMs for the same period in 2008, an increase of 0.3 percent.  Available seat miles decreased 4.8 percent to 82.5 billion from the 2008 level of 86.6 billion.  The year-to-date load factor was 75.9 percent, compared to 72.1 percent for the same period last year.
This release, as well as past news releases on Southwest, are available online at southwest.com.

 

 
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SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
  
PRELIMINARY COMPARATIVE TRAFFIC STATISTICS
  
                   
       
                   
                   
                   
                   
   
OCTOBER
  
                   
   
2009
    
2008
    
CHANGE
  
                   
                   
Revenue passengers carried
     7,435,140       7,489,319       (0.7 )%
                         
Enplaned passengers
     8,776,079       8,562,562       2.5 %
                         
Revenue passenger miles (000)
     6,325,204       6,207,582       1.9 %
                         
Available seat miles (000)
     7,987,167       8,812,152       (9.4 )%
                         
Load factor
     79.2 %     70.4 %  
8.8 pts.
  
                         
Average length of haul
     851       829       2.7 %
                         
Trips flown
     92,670       101,224       (8.5 )%
                         
                         
                         
                         
   
YEAR-TO-DATE
  
                         
      2009       2008    
CHANGE
  
                         
                         
Revenue passengers carried
     72,246,591       75,230,495       (4.0 )%
                         
Enplaned passengers
     84,727,867       86,508,315       (2.1 )%
                         
Revenue passenger miles (000)
     62,606,891       62,434,092       0.3 %
                         
Available seat miles (000)
     82,482,784       86,627,709       (4.8 )%
                         
Load factor
     75.9 %     72.1 %  
3.8 pts.
  
                         
Average length of haul
     867       830       4.5 %
                         
Trips flown
     945,041       999,983       (5.5 )%

 
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