OREANDA-NEWS. Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) (the "Company") today reported its December, fourth quarter, and total year preliminary traffic statistics. The Company flew 10.0 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in December 2015, an increase of 8.6 percent from the 9.2 billion RPMs flown in December 2014. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 8.3 percent to 12.1 billion in December 2015, compared with December 2014 ASMs of 11.2 billion. The December 2015 load factor was a record for the month of December at 83.0 percent, compared with 82.7 percent in December 2014.

For fourth quarter 2015, the Company flew 29.7 billion RPMs, an increase of 11.1 percent from the 26.8 billion RPMs flown in fourth quarter 2014. Fourth quarter 2015 ASMs increased 8.4 percent to 35.4 billion, compared with fourth quarter 2014 ASMs of 32.6 billion. The fourth quarter 2015 load factor was a fourth quarter record at 84.0 percent, compared with 82.0 percent in fourth quarter 2014. The Company continues to estimate its fourth quarter 2015 operating revenue per ASM (RASM) will be approximately flat to down 1.0 percent, compared with fourth quarter 2014.

For 2015, the Company flew 117.5 billion RPMs, an increase of 8.8 percent from the 108.0 billion RPMs flown in 2014. For 2015, ASMs increased 7.3 percent to 140.5 billion, compared with 131.0 billion in 2014. The 2015 load factor was an annual record at 83.6 percent, compared with 82.5 percent in 2014.

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

 

Southwest Airlines Co.

Preliminary Comparative Traffic Statistics
 

DECEMBER
 

2015

  

2014

  

Change

Revenue passengers carried

10,105,907

  

9,594,370

  

5.3%

Enplaned passengers

12,371,034

  

11,666,424

  

6.0%

Revenue passenger miles (000s)

10,020,969

  

9,224,382

  

8.6%

Available seat miles (000s)

12,072,508

  

11,151,720

  

8.3%

Load factor

83.0%

  

82.7%

  

0.3 pts.

Average length of haul

992

  

961

  

3.2%

Trips flown

108,208

  

104,550

  

3.5%
           

FOURTH QUARTER
 

2015

  

2014

  

Change

Revenue passengers carried

30,368,454

  

27,894,107

  

8.9%

Enplaned passengers

37,039,737

  

34,065,219

  

8.7%

Revenue passenger miles (000s)

29,727,972

  

26,767,655

  

11.1%

Available seat miles (000s)

35,378,679

  

32,647,338

  

8.4%

Load factor

84.0%

  

82.0%

  

2.0 pts.

Average length of haul

979

  

960

  

2.0%

Trips flown

319,178

  

309,271

  

3.2%
           

TOTAL YEAR
 

2015

  

2014

  

Change

Revenue passengers carried

118,171,211

  

110,496,912

  

6.9%

Enplaned passengers

144,574,882

  

135,767,188

  

6.5%

Revenue passenger miles (000s)

117,499,879

  

108,035,133

  

8.8%

Available seat miles (000s)

140,512,514

  

131,003,957

  

7.3%

Load factor

83.6%

  

82.5%

  

1.1 pts.

Average length of haul

994

  

978

  

1.6%

Trips flown

1,267,358

  

1,255,502

  

0.9%