HuronIP

DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

Southwest Airlines Co.'s (LUV) preliminary January traffic rose 5.9% to 5.49 billion revenue passenger miles from 5.18 billion RPM a year ago.

Revenue passenger miles, or RPM, is calculated by multiplying the number of regular fare-paying passengers aboard an airline's fleet by the distance traveled.

The Dallas-based budget carrier said capacity rose to 8.55 billion available seat-miles from 8.12 billion ASM in January 2007.

Available seat-miles indicates the amount of space on an airline's fleet that passengers can buy.

Southwest's load factor, or the percentage of seats filled, rose to 64.2% from 63.8% a year ago.

Bernie

Here's more on growth plans from Gary Kelly (taken from Southwest's website):

"Although we are taking a cautious approach to our overall fleet growth in 2008, we currently plan to grow our ASMs four to five percent on a year-over-year basis and remain well-positioned to respond quickly to favorable market opportunities. We will accept 29 new Boeing 737-700s scheduled for 2008 delivery, and currently plan to reduce our existing fleet by 22 aircraft, ending 2008 with 527 aircraft. Since third quarter 2007, we have exercised three Boeing 737-700 options for delivery in 2009, bringing our 2009 firm orders and options to 21 and seven, respectively."

Any guesses as to how many jets SWA plans to retire in 2009?

IXLR8

ummmm.....527?