Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the Company flew 6.7 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in June 2009, a 2.1 percent decrease from the 6.9 billion RPMs flown in June 2008. Available seat miles (ASMs) decreased 3.8 percent to 8.5 billion from the June 2008 level of 8.8 billion. The load factor for the month was 79.5 percent, compared to 78.2 percent for the same period last year. For June 2009, passenger revenue per ASM is estimated to have decreased in the nine to ten percent range as compared to June 2008.
For the second quarter 2009, Southwest flew 19.7 billion RPMs, compared to the 19.8 billion RPMs recorded for the same period in 2008, a decrease of 0.6 percent. Available seat miles decreased 3.0 percent to 25.6 billion from the second quarter 2008 level of 26.3 billion. The second quarter 2009 load factor was 77.0 percent, compared to 75.2 percent for the same period last year.
For the first half of 2009, Southwest flew 36.6 billion RPMs, compared to the 37.4 billion RPMs recorded for the same period in 2008, a decrease of 2.2 percent. Available seat miles decreased 3.5 percent to 49.7 billion from the 2008 level of 51.5 billion. The year-to-date load factor was 73.6 percent, compared to 72.6 percent for the same period last year.
This release, as well as past news releases on Southwest, are available online at southwest.com.
