Southwest Airlines reports December traffic

DALLAS, TX – Southwest Airlines Co announced today that the Company flew 9.2 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in December 2014, a 2.8 percent increase from the 9.0 billion RPMs flown in December 2013. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 2.9 percent to 11.2 billion from the December 2013 level of 10.8 billion. The December 2014 load factor was 82.7 percent compared with 82.8 percent in December 2013. For December 2014, passenger revenue per ASM (PRASM) is estimated to have decreased in the four to five percent range, as compared with December 2013.

For the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company flew 26.8 billion RPMs, compared with 25.7 billion RPMs flown for the same period in 2013, an increase of 4.3 percent. Fourth quarter 2014 ASMs increased 2.4 percent to 32.6 billion from fourth quarter 2013 ASMs of 31.9 billion. The fourth quarter 2014 load factor was 82.0 percent, compared with 80.4 percent for the same period in 2013. For fourth quarter 2014, PRASM is estimated to have increased in the one to two percent range, as compared with fourth quarter 2013.

For the full year of 2014, the Company flew 108.0 billion RPMs, compared with 104.3 billion RPMs flown in full year 2013, an increase of 3.5 percent. Full year 2014 ASMs increased 0.5 percent to 131.0 billion from 130.3 billion for full year 2013. The full year 2014 load factor was 82.5 percent, compared with 80.1 percent for full year 2013.

Southwest Airlines Co.
Preliminary Comparative Traffic Statistics

DECEMBER
2014 2013 Change
Revenue passengers carried 9,594,370 9,307,789 3.1%
Enplaned passengers 11,666,424 11,487,623 1.6%
Revenue passenger miles (000s) 9,224,382 8,975,588 2.8%
Available seat miles (000s) 11,151,720 10,839,912 2.9%
Load factor 82.7 % 82.8 % (0.1) pts.
Average length of haul 961 964 (0.3)%
Trips flown 104,550 107,157 (2.4)%

FOURTH QUARTER
2014 2013 Change
Revenue passengers carried 27,894,107 26,895,809 3.7%
Enplaned passengers 34,065,219 33,118,822 2.9%
Revenue passenger miles (000s) 26,767,655 25,652,363 4.3%
Available seat miles (000s) 32,647,338 31,886,318 2.4%
Load factor 82.0 % 80.4 % 1.6 pts.
Average length of haul 960 954 0.6%
Trips flown 309,271 317,688 (2.6)%

TOTAL YEAR
2014 2013 Change
Revenue passengers carried 110,496,912 108,075,976 2.2%
Enplaned passengers 135,767,188 133,155,030 2.0%
Revenue passenger miles (000s) 108,035,133 104,348,216 3.5%
Available seat miles (000s) 131,003,957 130,344,072 0.5%
Load factor 82.5 % 80.1 % 2.4 pts.
Average length of haul 978 966 1.2%
Trips flown 1,255,502 1,312,785 (4.4)%