Southwest Airlines flew 9.2 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in September 2015, an 11.4 percent increase from the 8.3 billion RPMs flown in September 2014. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 8.4 percent to 11.1 billion in September 2015, compared with the September 2014 level of 10.3 billion. The September 2015 load factor was a record for the month of September at 82.7 percent, compared with 80.5 percent in September 2014.
For the third quarter of 2015, Southwest flew 31.1 billion RPMs, compared with 28.5 billion RPMs flown for the same period in 2014, an increase of 8.9 percent. Third quarter 2015 ASMs increased 7.6 percent to a level of 36.4 billion, compared with third quarter 2014 ASMs of 33.8 billion. The third quarter 2015 load factor was a quarterly record at 85.4 percent, compared with 84.4 percent for the same period in 2014. The airlines continues to expect its third quarter 2015 operating revenue per ASM (RASM) to decrease approximately 1.0 percent, compared with third quarter 2014.
For the first nine months of 2015, Southwest flew 87.8 billion RPMs, compared with 81.3 billion RPMs flown for the same period in 2014, an increase of 8.0 percent. Year-to-date 2015 ASMs increased 6.9 percent to a level of 105.1 billion, compared with 98.4 billion for the same period in 2014. The year-to-date 2015 load factor was 83.5 percent, compared with 82.6 percent for the same period in 2014.