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8-K - FORM 8-K DECEMBER 2016 TRAFFIC RELEASE - SOUTHWEST AIRLINES COtraffic8k122016cover.htm


SOUTHWEST AIRLINES REPORTS DECEMBER TRAFFIC

DALLAS, TEXAS – January 10, 2017 – Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) (the "Company") today reported its December, fourth quarter, and total year preliminary traffic statistics.

The Company flew 10.4 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in December 2016, an increase of 4.2 percent from the 10.0 billion RPMs flown in December 2015. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 4.8 percent to 12.6 billion in December 2016, compared with December 2015 ASMs of 12.1 billion. The December 2016 load factor was 82.6 percent, compared with 83.0 percent in December 2015. Based on these results and an improvement in close-in yields, the Company now estimates its fourth quarter 2016 operating revenue per ASM (RASM) will decline in the 3.0 to 4.0 percent range, as compared with fourth quarter 2015.

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
www.southwestairlinesinvestorrelations.com

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Southwest Airlines Co.
Preliminary Comparative Traffic Statistics

DECEMBER
 
2016
 
2015
 
Change
Revenue passengers carried
10,561,159
 
10,105,907
 
4.5%
Enplaned passengers
12,845,248
 
12,371,034
 
3.8%
Revenue passenger miles (000s)
10,445,407
 
10,020,969
 
4.2%
Available seat miles (000s)
12,645,787
 
12,068,272
 
4.8%
Load factor
82.6%
 
83.0%
 
(0.4) pts.
Average length of haul
989
 
992
 
(0.3)%
Trips flown
111,765
 
108,208
 
3.3%

FOURTH QUARTER
 
2016
 
2015
 
Change
Revenue passengers carried
32,006,767
 
30,368,454
 
5.4%
Enplaned passengers
38,779,938
 
37,039,737
 
4.7%
Revenue passenger miles (000s)
31,366,176
 
29,727,972
 
5.5%
Available seat miles (000s)
37,147,109
 
35,367,574
 
5.0%
Load factor
84.4%
 
84.1%
 
0.3 pts.
Average length of haul
980
 
979
 
0.1%
Trips flown
329,740
 
319,178
 
3.3%

TOTAL YEAR
 
2016
 
2015
 
Change
Revenue passengers carried
124,719,765
 
118,171,211
 
5.5%
Enplaned passengers
151,740,357
 
144,574,882
 
5.0%
Revenue passenger miles (000s)
124,797,986
 
117,499,879
 
6.2%
Available seat miles (000s)
148,522,051
 
140,501,409
 
5.7%
Load factor
84.0%
 
83.6%
 
0.4 pts.
Average length of haul
1,001
 
994
 
0.7%
Trips flown
1,311,149
 
1,267,358
 
3.5%


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SW-T