Southwest Airlines reports record fourth quarter and annual profit

Southwest Airlines’ fourth quarter 2017 total operating revenues reached $5.3 billion, driven largely by record fourth quarter passenger revenues of $4.7 billion. This is compared with fourth quarter 2016, where total operating revenues increased 3.9 percent on a 2.0 percent increase in available seat miles, resulting in a 1.9 percent increase in operating unit revenues (RASM). Strong passenger demand resulted in a fourth quarter record 85.0 percent load factor, while fourth quarter passenger revenue yield decreased 0.1 percent, year-over-year. Passenger bookings and revenues for first quarter 2018, thus far, are solid, says the airline. Based on these trends and the