OREANDA-NEWS. Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the Company flew 7.9 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in September 2013, a 1.3 percent increase from the 7.8 billion RPMs flown in September 2012.  Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 1.2 percent to 10.2 billion from the September 2012 level of 10.1 billion.  The September 2013 load factor was 77.1 percent, compared to 77.0 percent in September 2012.  For September 2013, passenger revenue per ASM (PRASM) is estimated to have increased in the seven to eight percent range compared to September 2012.

For the third quarter of 2013, the Company flew 27.0 billion RPMs, compared to 27.2 billion RPMs flown for the same period in 2012, a decrease of 0.6 percent.  Third quarter ASMs increased 1.0 percent to 33.4 billion from third quarter 2012 ASMs of 33.1 billion.  The third quarter load factor was 80.8 percent, compared to 82.1 percent for the same period in 2012.

For the first nine months of 2013, the Company flew 78.7 billion RPMs, compared to 78.1 billion RPMs flown for the same period in 2012, an increase of 0.8 percent.  Year-to-date ASMs increased 1.6 percent to 98.5 billion from 96.9 billion for the same period in 2012.  The year-to-date load factor was 79.9 percent, compared to 80.5 percent for the same period in 2012.