Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) (the "Company") today reported its December, fourth quarter, and total year 2017 preliminary traffic statistics.

The Company flew 10.7 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in December 2017, an increase of 2.6 percent from the 10.4 billion RPMs flown in December 2016. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 1.8 percent to 12.9 billion in December 2017, compared with December 2016 ASMs of 12.6 billion. The December 2017 load factor was a record for the month of December at 83.3 percent, compared with 82.6 percent in December 2016. Based on these results, the Company continues to estimate its fourth quarter 2017 operating revenue per ASM (RASM) will increase in the one to two percent range, as compared with fourth quarter 2016.