Southwest Airlines has reported a third quarter net profit of $277 million or $0.44 per diluted share on a year-over-three increase in revenue of 10.3 percent to $6.2 billion, a record for the period. At September 30, 2022, the carrier had liquidity of $14.7 billion.
On Thursday (October 27, 2022), Southwest Airlines reported their third quarter financial results for the period ending September 30, 2022. The carrier reported a third quarter net profit of $277 million or $0.44 per diluted share on a year-over-three increase in revenue of 10.3 percent to $6.2 billion, a company record for the period. Southwest’s revenue per available seat mile (RASM) increased by 10.6 percent versus Q3 2019 to 15.84 cents, while cost per available seat mile (CASM) was up year-over-three by 21.2 percent to 14.83 cents. Costs excluding fuel and profit sharing (CASM-ex) increased by 12.3 percent compared to Q3 2019 to 10.23 cents. At September 30, 2022, Southwest Airlines had total liquidity of $14.7 billion, far in excess of the carrier’s total debt of $8.7 billion.
In Thursday’s announcment, Southwest Airlines’ Chief Executive Officer, Bob Jordan, said in part,
“We are pleased to report solid third quarter 2022 profits and record third quarter operating revenues. Following record summer leisure travel demand, revenue trends remained strong in September 2022, bolstered by improving business travel trends post-Labor Day. Leisure and business demand remains strong, and we currently expect revenue trends to improve sequentially from third quarter to fourth quarter 2022, despite lower capacity. Our fuel hedging strategy continues to provide protection against persistently high jet fuel prices, and we are 61 percent hedged in fourth quarter 2022 and 50 percent hedged in full year 2023. We continue to execute well against our full year 2022 non-fuel cost guidance, despite cost headwinds due to operating at suboptimal productivity levels and significant inflationary cost pressures. We remain focused on maintaining our current momentum and expect to generate strong profits and margins in fourth quarter 2022, based on current trends and barring any significant unforeseen events.
“Our thoughts remain with those impacted by Hurricane Ian. We quickly resumed full service to all affected airports with the exception of Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, which is currently expected to operate a reduced flight schedule through at least the end of this year…
“…We continue working with The Boeing Company (Boeing) to finalize our 2023 aircraft delivery plans; however, we currently expect aircraft delivery delays to persist into 2024. Today, we extended our flight schedule through July 10, 2023, and we currently expect first quarter 2023 capacity to increase approximately 10 percent and second quarter 2023 capacity to increase approximately 14 percent, both year-over-year. While we have not yet finalized capacity plans for second half 2023, and there is uncertainty around the timing of aircraft deliveries, we are building our 2023 capacity plan with a goal to have sufficient aircraft to operate our 2023 flight schedules, as originally published, in an effort to enhance operational reliability. We plan to allocate the vast majority of new 2023 capacity to network restoration and stronghold Southwest markets, which we consider to be lower-risk growth. We currently expect our route network to be approximately 90 percent restored by summer 2023, and fully restored by December 2023, compared with 2019 flight levels in pre-pandemic markets…”
Southwest Airlines Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results - Courtesy Southwest Airlines
During the third quarter, Southwest received 23 new Boeing 737-8 MAX airplanes, for a total of 35 received this year as of September 30, 2022. The airline closed the period with a fleet of 742 aircraft, reflecting 11 737-700 retirements during the quarter. Southwest originally expected to receive a total of 114 MAX Family aircraft this year, but due to Boeing’s supply chain challenges and the current certification status of the 737-7 MAX, expects a portion of these deliveries to shift out of 2022. In total, the company expects to receive a total of 66 737-8s this year, including 31 during Q4, and no 737-7 MAX jets in 2022. Southwest also expects to retire a total of 26 Boeing 737-7s in 2022, including five in the fourth quarter.
The company’s third quarter CAPEX totaled $1.1 billion, primarily driven by aircraft-related spending, as well as investments in technology, facilities and operations. For the full year, Southwest expects total CAPEX of $4.0 billion, including approximately $900 million in non-aircraft capital spending.
Founded in 1971, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) has distinguished itself by offering exemplary customer service delivered by over 62,000 team members at 121 airports across 11 countries. Southwest offers a robust point-to-point network with a strong presence across leisure and business markets, and carried 130 million passengers in 2019. During peak travel seasons, the airline operates more than 4,000 daily departures to over 100 destinations across the U.S. and 10 additional countries. Southwest also continues to develop tangible steps toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, including offering Customers the opportunity to help the airline offset carbon emissions.
In trading Thursday afternoon (October 27, 2022), shares in Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) were up 3.61% to $35.61/share (2:32 PM EDT).
Source: Southwest Airlines
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