Here are the more interesting Southwest Airlines facts I was able to dig up recently. As always, I will be adding more and updating these periodically as I find new stuff. Be sure to check back regularly.
Please note that some of these numbers are easier to find than others, so some of these are based on news reports and not official company tallies. All stats are linked to their source unless it was sent to me directly from the company. No stat listed on DMR should be considered in making any type of investment decision. In other words: This is the best I can find, but I don't guarantee anything.
Southwest Airlines Facts
- Southwest Airlines Website: www.southwest.com
- Year Southwest Airlines was Founded: 1971
- Southwest Airlines Founder: Herbert Kelleher and Rollin King
- Southwest Airlines Headquarters: Dallas, TX
- Southwest Airlines CEO: Gary Kelly
Southwest Airlines Statistics
Number of Southwest Airlines employees:
Last updated 10/28/18
Total Southwest Airlines emplaned passengers (annual):
- 2018: 163.6 million
- 2017: 157.6 million
- 2016: 151. 7 million
- 2015: 144.5 million
- 2014: 135.7 million
- 2013: 133.1 million
- 2012: 133.9 million
- 2011: 127.5 million
- 2010: 106.2 million
- 2009: 101.3 million
- 2008: 101.9 million
- 2007: 101.9 million
- 2006: 96.2 million
- 2005: 88.3 million
- 2004: 81 million
- 2003: 74.7 million
- 2002: 72.4 million
- 2001: 73.6 million
- 2000: 72.5 million
Total Southwest Airlines flights per year:
- 2018: 1.375 million
- 2017: 1.347 million
- 2016: 1.311 million
- 2015: 1.267 million
- 2014: 1.255 million
- 2013: 1.312 million
- 2012: 1.361 million
- 2011: 1.317 million
- 2010: 1.114 million
- 2009: 1.125 million
- 2008: 1.191 million
- 2007: 1.160 million
- 2006: 1.092 million
- 2005: 1.028 million
- 2004: 981,591
- 2003: 949,882
- 2002: 947,331
- 2001: 940 426
- 2000: 903,754
Average Southwest Airlines passenger fare:
- 2018: $151.64
- 2017: $151.73
- 2016: $152.89
- 2015: $154.85
- 2014: $159.80
- 2013: $154.72
- 2012: $147.17
- 2011: $141.90
- 2010: $130.27
- 2009: $114.61
- 2008: $119.16
- 2007: $106.60
- 2006: $104.40
- 2005: $93.68
- 2004: $88.57
- 2003: $87.42
- 2002: $84.72
- 2001: $83.46
- 2000: $85.87
Number of Southwest Airlines aircraft:
- 2018: 750
- 2017: 706
- 2016: 723
- 2015: 704
- 2014: 665
- 2013: 681
- 2012 694
- 2011: 698
- 2010: 548
- 2009: 537
- 2008: 537
- 2007: 520
- 2006: 481
- 2005: 445
- 2004: 417
- 2003: 388
- 2002: 375
- 2001: 355
- 2000: 344
Number of Southwest Airlines destinations in the US:
Last updated 10/28/18
Average number of daily departures for Southwest Airlines during peak travel season:
Last updated 10/28/18
Average age of Southwest Airlines' fleet:
Last updated 10/28/18
Average amount of time per day that each Southwest Airlines' aircraft flies:
Last updated 10/28/18
US airport with the most Southwest Airlines daily departures:
Last updated 10/28/18
Average number of reservations that Southwest Airlines customer reps book monthly:
Last updated 10/28/18
Number of people who applied for jobs with Southwest Airlines in 2016:
Number of Southwest Airlines new hires in 2016:
Amount of cargo flown on Southwest Airlines in 2016:
Percentage of Southwest Airlines passengers that checked in online or at a kiosk in 2016:
Southwest Airlines revenue (annual):
- 2018: $21.965 billion
- 2017: $21.146 billion
- 2016: $20.289 billion
- 2015: $19.820 billion
- 2014: $18.605 billion
- 2013: $17.699 billion
- 2012: $17.088 billion
- 2011: $15.658 billion
- 2010: $12.104 billion
- 2009: $10.350 billion
- 2008: $11.023 billion
- 2007: $9.861 billion
- 2006: $9.086 billion
- 2005: $7.584 billion
- 2004: $6.530 billion
- 2003: $5.937 billion
- 2002: $5.522 billion
- 2001: $5.555 billion
- 2000: $5.650 billion
Southwest Airlines net income (annual):
- 2018: $2.465 billion
- 2017: $3.357 billion
- 2016: $2.183 billion
- 2015: $2.181 billion
- 2014: $1.136 billion
- 2013: $754 million
- 2012: $421 million
- 2011: $178 million
- 2010: $459 million
- 2009: $99 million
- 2008: $178 million
- 2007: $645 million
- 2006: $499 million
- 2005: $484 million
- 2004: $313 million
- 2003: $442 million
- 2002: $241 million
- 2001: $511 million
- 2000: $626 million
This full report is available in an annual industry report. Some of the data in industry reports include:
- Passengers
- Flights
- Employees
- History
- Revenue
- Growth
- Etc.- all in one place
I try to go through each and every stat regularly and update as much as possible, but we all know that some stats are easier to track down than others. As always, every stat is linked to its original source and has the source date listed.
To get your copy of the report, click on the button below to purchase it.