EX-99.1 2 ex99_1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 NOVEMBER 2009 TRAFFIC RELEASE ex99_1.htm
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.
 



 
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SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
  
PRELIMINARY COMPARATIVE TRAFFIC STATISTICS
  
       
                   
                   
                   
                   
   
DECEMBER
  
                   
   
2009
    
2008
    
CHANGE
  
                   
                   
Revenue passengers carried
     7,032,357       6,778,951       3.7 %
                         
Enplaned passengers
     8,354,947       7,964,829       4.9 %
                         
Revenue passenger miles (000s)
     5,970,666       5,794,390       3.0 %
                         
Available seat miles (000s)
     7,832,819       8,318,347       (5.8 )%
                         
Load factor
     76.2 %     69.7 %  
6.5 pts.
  
                         
Average length of haul
     849       855       (0.7 )%
                         
Trips flown
     90,784       95,813       (5.2 )%
                         
                         
                         
   
FOURTH QUARTER
  
                         
      2009       2008    
CHANGE
  
                         
                         
Revenue passengers carried
     21,493,912       20,788,058       3.4 %
                         
Enplaned passengers
     25,386,440       23,974,845       5.9 %
                         
Revenue passenger miles (000s)
     18,175,033       17,265,177       5.3 %
                         
Available seat miles (000s)
     23,506,003       25,455,786       (7.7 )%
                         
Load factor
     77.3 %     67.8 %  
9.5 pts.
  
                         
Average length of haul
     846       831       1.8 %
                         
Trips flown
     272,740       292,392       (6.7 )%
                         
                         
                         
   
YEAR-TO-DATE
  
                         
      2009       2008    
CHANGE
  
                         
                         
Revenue passengers carried
     86,305,366       88,529,234       (2.5 )%
                         
Enplaned passengers
     101,338,228       101,920,598       (0.6 )%
                         
Revenue passenger miles (000s)
     74,456,719       73,491,687       1.3 %
                         
Available seat miles (000s)
     98,001,621       103,271,343       (5.1 )%
                         
Load factor
     76.0 %     71.2 %  
4.8 pts.
  
                         
Average length of haul
     863       830       4.0 %
                         
Trips flown
     1,125,111       1,191,151       (5.5 )%


 
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