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8-K - FORM 8-K SEPTEMBER 2016 TRAFFIC RELEASE - SOUTHWEST AIRLINES COtraffic8k092016cover.htm


SOUTHWEST AIRLINES REPORTS SEPTEMBER TRAFFIC

DALLAS, TEXAS – October 11, 2016 – Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) (the "Company") today reported its September, third quarter, and year-to-date preliminary traffic statistics.

The Company flew 9.9 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in September 2016, an increase of 7.9 percent from the 9.2 billion RPMs flown in September 2015. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 6.0 percent to 11.8 billion in September 2016, compared with September 2015 ASMs of 11.1 billion. The September 2016 load factor was a record for the month of September at 84.2 percent, compared with 82.7 percent in September 2015. The Company continues to estimate its third quarter 2016 operating revenue per ASM (RASM) will decline in the 3.5 to 4.5 percent range, as compared with third quarter 2015*, with approximately 0.5 point of the decline resulting from the Company's July 2016 technology outage.

This release, as well as past news releases about Southwest Airlines Co., is available online at Southwest.com.

Investor Contact:
Southwest Airlines Investor Relations
214-792-4415

Media Contact:
Southwest Airlines Media Relations
214-792-4847
swamedia@wnco.com

/more





Southwest Airlines Co.
Preliminary Comparative Traffic Statistics

SEPTEMBER
 
2016
 
2015
 
Change
Revenue passengers carried
10,148,682
 
9,421,347
 
7.7%
Enplaned passengers
12,302,964
 
11,536,417
 
6.6%
Revenue passenger miles (000s)
9,938,610
 
9,206,955
 
7.9%
Available seat miles (000s)
11,797,272
 
11,133,628
 
6.0%
Load factor
84.2%
 
82.7%
 
1.5 pts.
Average length of haul
979
 
977
 
0.2%
Trips flown
105,535
 
101,467
 
4.0%

THIRD QUARTER
 
2016
 
2015
 
Change
Revenue passengers carried
31,768,550
 
30,559,019
 
4.0%
Enplaned passengers
38,852,737
 
37,765,903
 
2.9%
Revenue passenger miles (000s)
32,315,952
 
31,052,660
 
4.1%
Available seat miles (000s)
37,881,510
 
36,360,340
 
4.2%
Load factor
85.3%
 
85.4%
 
(0.1) pts.
Average length of haul
1,017
 
1,016
 
0.1%
Trips flown
332,420
 
325,301
 
2.2%

YEAR-TO-DATE
 
2016
 
2015
 
Change
Revenue passengers carried
92,712,998
 
87,802,757
 
5.6%
Enplaned passengers
112,960,419
 
107,535,145
 
5.0%
Revenue passenger miles (000s)
93,431,810
 
87,771,907
 
6.4%
Available seat miles (000s)
111,374,942
 
105,133,835
 
5.9%
Load factor
83.9%
 
83.5%
 
0.4 pts.
Average length of haul
1,008
 
1,000
 
0.8%
Trips flown
981,409
 
948,180
 
3.5%


*Operating revenues used in the calculation of third quarter 2015 RASM exclude a $172 million one-time non-cash special revenue adjustment as shown in the following reconciliation. Additional information regarding the special revenue adjustment is available in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.
 
Three months ended
(in millions)
September 30, 2015
Operating Revenues, as reported
$
5,318

Deduct: Special revenue adjustment
(172
)
Operating Revenues, Non-GAAP
$
5,146


***
SW-T