The FINANCIAL -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced on March 5 that the Company flew 5.0 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in February 2010, a 2.3 percent decrease from the 5.1 billion RPMs flown in February 2009.

"Available seat miles (ASMs) decreased 8.7 percent to 6.8 billion from the February 2009 level of 7.4 billion. The load factor for the month was 73.9 percent, compared to 69.1 percent for the same period last year. Weather-related flight cancellations during the month reduced the Company's passenger revenues by an estimated $15 million. For February 2010, passenger revenue per ASM is estimated to have increased in the 16 to 17 percent range as compared to February 2009," Southwest Airlines informed.

For the first two months of 2010, Southwest flew 10.5 billion RPMs, compared to 10.2 billion RPMs for the same period in 2009, an increase of 2.4 percent. Available seat miles decreased 7.6 percent to 14.4 billion from the 2009 level of 15.6 billion. The year-to-date load factor was 72.9 percent, compared to 65.8 percent for the same period last year.

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