DALLAS, June 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) (the "Company") today reported its May and year-to-date preliminary traffic statistics.

The Company flew 11.2 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in May 2017, an increase of 3.4 percent from the 10.9 billion RPMs flown in May 2016. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 4.0 percent to 13.2 billion in May 2017, compared with May 2016 ASMs of 12.6 billion. The May 2017 load factor was 85.4 percent, compared with 85.8 percent in May 2016. Based on these results and current trends, the Company continues to expect its second quarter 2017 operating revenue per ASM (RASM) to increase in the one to two percent range, as compared with second quarter 2016.