Southwest reports higher traffic, revenue figure
Fuller planes: Southwest and AirTran report gains in passenger traffic, key revenue figure
DALLAS (AP) -- Southwest Airlines Co. said Thursday that passenger traffic and a key revenue figure both rose in April. Airlines expected a boost in April from the shift in Easter, which fell in March last year.
Southwest, which owns AirTran Airways, said that companywide traffic rose 4.4 percent as passengers flew 9.12 billion miles.
Revenue for every seat flown one mile, a closely watched number in the airline business, grew by between 7 percent and 8 percent over April 2013, the company said. The figure can rise when airlines fill more seats or charge higher average fares.
The average flight on Southwest and AirTran was 81.7 percent full, up from 77.8 percent a year earlier. The airline did not release details on average fares.
Southwest shares rose 36 cents to $24.56 in midday trading. They started the session up 28 percent in 2014.