Southwest Airlines Co. announced today that the Company flew 2,519.1 million revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in September 1998, a 9.2 percent increase from the 2,307.1 million flown in September 1997. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 5.1 percent to 4,009.0 million from the September 1997 level of 3,813.2 million. The load factor for the month was 62.8 percent, up 2.3 points from 1997.

For the third quarter of 1998, Southwest flew 8,463.5 million RPMs, compared with the 7,565.8 million recorded for the same period in 1997, an increase of 11.9 percent. Available seat miles increased 6.9 percent to 12,279.9 million from the 1997 third quarter level of 11,492.1 million. The 1998 third quarter load factor was 68.9 percent, up 3.1 points from the same period last year.

For the nine months ended September 30, 1998, Southwest flew 23,587.5 million RPMs, compared with the 21,113.4 million recorded for the same period of 1997, an increase of 11.7 percent. Available seat miles increased 6.9 percent to 35,263.0 million from the 1997 level of 32,991.0 million. The year-to-date load factor was 66.9 percent, up 2.9 points from the same period last year.

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