DALLAS, March 10, 2017
/PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) (the
"Company") today reported its February and year-to-date preliminary
traffic statistics.
The Company flew 8.7 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in
February 2017, an increase of 1.1
percent from the 8.6 billion RPMs flown in February 2016. Available seat miles (ASMs)
increased 1.2 percent to 11.0 billion in February 2017, compared with February 2016 ASMs of 10.9 billion. The
February 2017 load factor was 79.0
percent, which was flat compared with February 2016. Based on these results and current
trends, the Company now estimates its first quarter 2017
operating revenue per ASM (RASM) will decline in the two to three
percent range, as compared with first quarter 2016. A
better-than-expected February trip
completion rate and the loss of traffic from the heavy rainfall in
California are contributing
factors to this revised RASM outlook. In addition, there
was unexpected softness in close-in
demand in the second half of
February that has since rebounded in March. Bookings and unit
revenue trends beyond first quarter 2017 remain encouraging.
This release, as well as past news releases about Southwest
Airlines Co., is available online at Southwest.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This news release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended. Specific forward-looking statements
include, without limitation, statements related to the Company's financial outlook and projected
results of operations, including specific factors expected to
impact the Company's results of operations. These statements
involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that
are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to
vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by them.
Factors include, among others, (i) changes in demand for the
Company's services and other changes in consumer behavior; (ii) the
impact of economic conditions, fuel prices, actions of competitors,
and other factors beyond the Company's control, on the Company's
business; (iii) the Company's ability to timely and effectively
implement, transition, and maintain the necessary information
technology systems and infrastructure to support its operations and
initiatives; (iv) the impact of governmental regulations and other
governmental actions related to the Company's operations; (v) the
Company's dependence on third parties; (vi) the impact of labor
matters on the Company's business; and (vii) other factors, as
described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including the detailed factors discussed under the
heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2016.
Southwest Airlines
Co.
|
Preliminary
Comparative Traffic Statistics
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FEBRUARY
|
|
2017
|
|
2016
|
|
Change
|
Revenue passengers
carried
|
8,863,310
|
|
8,761,811
|
|
1.2%
|
Enplaned
passengers
|
10,662,845
|
|
10,590,896
|
|
0.7%
|
Revenue passenger
miles (000s)
|
8,687,873
|
|
8,591,290
|
|
1.1%
|
Available seat miles
(000s)
|
10,997,565
|
|
10,870,738
|
|
1.2%
|
Load
factor
|
79.0%
|
|
79.0%
|
|
–
|
Average length of
haul
|
980
|
|
981
|
|
(0.1)%
|
Trips
flown
|
97,157
|
|
97,824
|
|
(0.7)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YEAR-TO-DATE
|
|
2017
|
|
2016
|
|
Change
|
Revenue passengers
carried
|
18,245,277
|
|
17,658,852
|
|
3.3%
|
Enplaned
passengers
|
21,987,228
|
|
21,515,002
|
|
2.2%
|
Revenue passenger
miles (000s)
|
18,040,522
|
|
17,533,086
|
|
2.9%
|
Available seat miles
(000s)
|
23,263,003
|
|
22,415,415
|
|
3.8%
|
Load
factor
|
77.6%
|
|
78.2%
|
|
(0.6) pts.
|
Average length of
haul
|
989
|
|
993
|
|
(0.4)%
|
Trips
flown
|
205,594
|
|
201,484
|
|
2.0%
|
SW-T
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southwest-airlines-reports-february-traffic-300421781.html
SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.