Southwest Airlines announce Sep-2009 traffic results

Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the Company flew 5.8 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in September 2009, an 8.8 percent increase from the 5.3 billion RPMs flown in September 2008. Available seat miles (ASMs) decreased 7.8 percent to 7.7 billion from the September 2008 level of 8.4 billion. The load factor for the month was 74.7 percent, compared to 63.4 percent for the same period last year. For September 2009, passenger revenue per ASM is estimated to have increased in the three percent range as compared to September 2008.