DALLAS, May 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) (the "Company") today reported its April and year-to-date preliminary traffic statistics.

The Company flew 11.2 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in April 2017, an increase of 8.4 percent from the 10.4 billion RPMs flown in April 2016. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 7.6 percent to 13.4 billion in April 2017, compared with April 2016 ASMs of 12.4 billion. The April 2017 load factor was a record for the month of April at 84.0 percent, compared with 83.4 percent in April 2016. Based on these results and current trends, the Company continues to expect its second quarter 2017 operating revenue per ASM (RASM) to increase in the one to two percent range, as compared with second quarter 2016.

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. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current intent, expectations, and projections and are not guarantees of future performance. 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



                                   APRIL
                                   -----

                                     2017                        2016    Change
                                     ----                        ----    ------

    Revenue
     passengers
     carried                   11,094,102                  10,340,882           7.3%

    Enplaned
     passengers                13,460,665                  12,606,212           6.8%

    Revenue
     passenger
     miles
     (000s)                    11,230,367                  10,358,780           8.4%

    Available
     seat
     miles
     (000s)                    13,369,826                  12,425,733           7.6%

    Load
     factor                         84.0%                      83.4%  0.6 pts.

    Average
     length
     of haul                        1,012                       1,002           1.0%

    Trips
     flown                        114,525                     109,219           4.9%




                                    YEAR-TO-DATE
                                    ------------

                                         2017          2016     Change
                                         ----          ----     ------

    Revenue passengers carried     40,632,892    38,944,361            4.3%

    Enplaned passengers            49,039,015    47,234,653            3.8%

    Revenue passenger miles (000s) 40,571,025    38,766,944            4.7%

    Available seat miles (000s)    50,069,696    47,693,882            5.0%

    Load factor                         81.0%        81.3%  (0.3) pts.

    Average length of haul                998           995            0.3%

    Trips flown                       436,315       423,756            3.0%

SW-T

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SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.