Southwest Airlines Reports August Traffic

Southwest Airlines Reports August Traffic

DALLAS, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) announced today that the Company flew 5.7 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in August 2005, a 13.7 percent increase from the 5.0 billion RPMs flown in August 2004. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 12.2 percent to 7.5 billion from the August 2004 level of 6.6 billion. The load factor for the month was 76.1 percent, compared to 75.1 percent for the same period last year.

For the eight months ended August 31, 2005, Southwest flew 40.3 billion RPMs, compared to the 36.3 billion RPMs recorded for the same period of 2004, an increase of 11.2 percent. Available seat miles increased 12.0 percent to 56.4 billion from the 2004 level of 50.3 billion. The year-to-date load factor was 71.5 percent, compared to 72.1 percent for the same period last year.

This press release, as well as past releases, can be accessed on the Southwest Airlines internet site at http://www.southwest.com/jp/luvhome.shtml?src=IR_090205 .

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
PRELIMINARY COMPARATIVE TRAFFIC STATISTICS

AUGUST

2005 2004 CHANGE

Revenue passengers carried 7,080,100 6,373,726 11.1 %

Enplaned passengers 8,125,680 7,357,694 10.4 %

Revenue passenger miles (000) 5,671,425 4,986,204 13.7 %

Available seat miles (000) 7,453,694 6,642,013 12.2 %

Load factor 76.1% 75.1% 1.0 pts.

Average length of haul 801 782 2.4 %

Trips flown 89,698 84,938 5.6 %

YEAR-TO-DATE

2005 2004 CHANGE

Revenue passengers carried 52,028,550 47,805,517 8.8 %

Enplaned passengers 59,168,029 54,796,951 8.0 %

Revenue passenger miles (000) 40,349,627 36,301,359 11.2 %

Available seat miles (000) 56,402,637 50,343,512 12.0 %

Load factor 71.5% 72.1% (0.6)pts.

Average length of haul 776 759 2.2 %

Trips flown 685,626 649,490 5.6 %

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010724/SWALOGO
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Southwest Airlines Co.

CONTACT: Investor Relations of Southwest Airlines Co., +1-214-792-4415

Web site: http://www.southwest.com/
http://www.southwest.com/jp/luvhome.shtml?src=IR_090205

-------
Profile: jene62