Southwest Airlines Reports December Traffic
Southwest Airlines Co. announced today that the Company flew 2,608.6 million revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in December 1998, an 8.9 percent increase over the 2,395.9 million flown in December of last year. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 8.7 percent to 4,161.6 million from the December 1997 level of 3,829.1 million. The load factor for the month was 62.7 percent, compared to 62.6 percent for the same period of a year ago.
For the fourth quarter of 1998, Southwest flew 7,831.6 million RPMs, compared with the 7,241.7 million recorded for the same period in 1997, an increase of 8.1 percent. Available seat miles increased 6.8 percent to 12,280.5 million from the 1997 fourth quarter level of 11,496.5 million. The 1998 fourth quarter load factor was 63.8 percent, up 0.8 points from the same period last year.
For the year ended December 31, 1998, Southwest flew 31,419.1 million RPMs, compared with the 28,355.1 million recorded for the same period of 1997, an increase of 10.8 percent. Available seat miles increased 6.9 percent to 47,543.5 million from the 1997 level of 44,487.4 million. The year-to-date load factor was 66.1 percent, up 2.4 points from the same period last year.
This press release, as well as past releases, can be accessed on the Southwest Airlines internet site at: http://www.southwest.com
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
COMPARATIVE TRAFFIC STATISTICS
DECEMBER 1998
|
DECEMBER |
|||
|
1998 |
1997 |
CHANGE |
|
|
Revenue passengers carried |
4,342,479 |
4,073,489 |
6.6 % |
|
Revenue passenger miles |
2,608,623,612 |
2,395,869,558 |
8.9 % |
|
Available seat miles |
4,161,644,868 |
3,829,134,103 |
8.7 % |
|
Load factor |
62.7% |
62.6% |
0.1 pts. |
|
Average length of haul |
601 |
588 |
2.2 % |
|
Trips flown |
68,583 |
66,247 |
3.5 % |
|
FOURTH QUARTER |
|||
|
1998 |
1997 |
CHANGE |
|
|
Revenue passengers carried |
13,290,604 |
12,612,091 |
5.4% |
|
Revenue passenger miles |
7,831,611,640 |
7,241,745,289 |
8.1 % |
|
Available seat miles |
12,280,514,847 |
11,496,471,061 |
6.8 % |
|
Load factor |
63.8% |
63.0% |
0.8 pts. |
|
Average length of haul |
589 |
574 |
2.6% |
|
Trips flown |
204,244 |
199,134 |
2.6 % |
|
YEAR-TO-DATE |
|||
|
1998 |
1997 |
CHANGE |
|
|
Revenue passengers carried |
52,586,400 |
50,399,960 |
4.3% |
|
Revenue passenger miles |
31,419,110,286 |
28,355,125,865 |
10.8% |
|
Available seat miles |
47,543,515,004 |
44,487,445,457 |
6.9% |
|
Load factor |
66.1% |
63.7% |
2.4 pts. |
|
Average length of haul |
597 |
563 |
6.0% |
|
Trips flown |
806,822 |
786,287 |
2.6% |
CONTACT:
Investor Relations
(214) 792-4415