EXHIBIT 99.1 NOVEMBER 2009 TRAFFIC RELEASE
Published on January 8, 2010
Ex 99.1
CONTACT: Investor
Relations (214) 792-4415
SOUTHWEST
AIRLINES REPORTS DECEMBER TRAFFIC
DALLAS, TEXAS – January 8, 2010 --
Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the Company flew 6.0
billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in December 2009, a 3.0 percent increase
from the 5.8 billion RPMs flown in December 2008. Available seat
miles (ASMs) decreased 5.8 percent to 7.8 billion from the December 2008 level
of 8.3 billion. The load factor for the month was 76.2 percent,
compared to 69.7 percent for the same period last year. For December
2009, passenger revenue per ASM is estimated to have increased in the seven
percent range as compared to December 2008.
For the fourth quarter 2009, Southwest
flew 18.2 billion RPMs, compared to 17.3 billion RPMs for the same period in
2008, an increase of 5.3 percent. Available seat miles decreased 7.7
percent to 23.5 billion from the fourth quarter 2008 level of 25.5
billion. The fourth quarter 2009 load factor was 77.3 percent,
compared to 67.8 percent for the same period last year.
For the
year ended December 31, 2009, Southwest flew 74.5 billion RPMs, compared to 73.5
billion RPMs for the same period in 2008, an increase of 1.3
percent. Available seat miles decreased 5.1 percent to 98.0 billion
from the 2008 level of 103.3 billion. The year-to-date load factor
was 76.0 percent, compared to 71.2 percent for the same period last
year.
This release, as well as past news
releases on Southwest, are available online at southwest.com.
/more
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SOUTHWEST
AIRLINES CO.
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PRELIMINARY
COMPARATIVE TRAFFIC STATISTICS
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DECEMBER
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2009
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2008
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CHANGE
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Revenue
passengers carried
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7,032,357 | 6,778,951 | 3.7 | % | ||||||||
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Enplaned
passengers
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8,354,947 | 7,964,829 | 4.9 | % | ||||||||
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Revenue
passenger miles (000s)
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5,970,666 | 5,794,390 | 3.0 | % | ||||||||
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Available
seat miles (000s)
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7,832,819 | 8,318,347 | (5.8 | )% | ||||||||
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Load
factor
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76.2 | % | 69.7 | % |
6.5
pts.
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Average
length of haul
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849 | 855 | (0.7 | )% | ||||||||
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Trips
flown
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90,784 | 95,813 | (5.2 | )% | ||||||||
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FOURTH
QUARTER
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| 2009 | 2008 |
CHANGE
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Revenue
passengers carried
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21,493,912 | 20,788,058 | 3.4 | % | ||||||||
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Enplaned
passengers
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25,386,440 | 23,974,845 | 5.9 | % | ||||||||
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Revenue
passenger miles (000s)
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18,175,033 | 17,265,177 | 5.3 | % | ||||||||
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Available
seat miles (000s)
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23,506,003 | 25,455,786 | (7.7 | )% | ||||||||
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Load
factor
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77.3 | % | 67.8 | % |
9.5
pts.
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Average
length of haul
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846 | 831 | 1.8 | % | ||||||||
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Trips
flown
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272,740 | 292,392 | (6.7 | )% | ||||||||
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YEAR-TO-DATE
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| 2009 | 2008 |
CHANGE
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Revenue
passengers carried
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86,305,366 | 88,529,234 | (2.5 | )% | ||||||||
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Enplaned
passengers
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101,338,228 | 101,920,598 | (0.6 | )% | ||||||||
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Revenue
passenger miles (000s)
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74,456,719 | 73,491,687 | 1.3 | % | ||||||||
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Available
seat miles (000s)
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98,001,621 | 103,271,343 | (5.1 | )% | ||||||||
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Load
factor
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76.0 | % | 71.2 | % |
4.8
pts.
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Average
length of haul
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863 | 830 | 4.0 | % | ||||||||
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Trips
flown
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1,125,111 | 1,191,151 | (5.5 | )% | ||||||||
***