Southwest Airlines Co. announced that the company flew 6.3 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in October 2009, a 1.9% increase from the 6.2 billion RPMs flown in October 2008. Available seat miles (ASMs) decreased 9.4% to 8.0 billion from the October 2008 level of 8.8 billion. The load factor for the month was 79.2%, compared to 70.4% for the same period last year. For October 2009, passenger revenue per ASM is estimated to have increased in the 1% range as compared to October 2008. For the ten months ended October 31, 2009, Southwest flew 62.6 billion RPMs, compared to 62.4 billion RPMs for the same period in 2008, an increase of 0.3%. Available seat miles decreased 4.8% to 82.5 billion from the 2008 level of 86.6 billion. The year-to-date load factor was 75.9%, compared to 72.1% for the same period last year.

Southwest Airlines Co. announced that its Pilots represented by the Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association (SWAPA), voted to ratify the tentative, five-year contract both parties reached last month. The new contract is active through Aug. 31, 2011. The current Southwest Pilot contract became amendable on Aug. 31, 2006. SWAPA and Southwest Airlines began contract negotiations in September 2006. This new contract rewards SWAPA membership for the company's past two years of profitability, while making a critical move to tie the next two years' compensation to the company's financial performance. SWAPA is made up of more than 5,900 Pilots.

Southwest Airlines Co. has agreed to settle a lawsuit that stemmed from last year's safety issues and a huge FAA fine. As part of the settlement, Southwest will pay the plaintiffs' attorneys $3.5 million in fees and expenses, and the plaintiffs will drop claims against Southwest and its officers and directors. The lawsuit was prompted by the Federal Aviation Administration's announcement in March 2008 proposing a $10.2 million fine against Southwest for failing to inspect some older Boeing 737s on schedule and for continuing to fly the planes after realizing that they should have been inspected for fuselage cracks. Southwest, which fought the original penalty, reached a settlement with the FAA this March for a $7.5 million fine and an agreement to upgrade its procedures and beef up its staffing to track aircraft inspections and maintenance. On Aug. 1, 2008, lead plaintiffs Carbon County, Pa., Employee Retirement System and Mark Cristello filed a lawsuit in Dallas state district court. The action alleged that Southwest's top officers and board of directors breached their fiduciary duties in allowing the safety lapses.