OREANDA-NEWS. Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) 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)%