Southwest Airlines reports Oct-2009 traffic

Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the Company flew 6.3 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in October 2009, a 1.9 percent increase from the 6.2 billion RPMs flown in October 2008. Available seat miles (ASMs) decreased 9.4 percent to 8.0 billion from the October 2008 level of 8.8 billion. The load factor for the month was 79.2 percent, compared to 70.4 percent for the same period last year. For October 2009, passenger revenue per ASM is estimated to have increased in the one percent range as compared to October 2008.