Southwest Holds Off on Changing Profit Outlook, Says It ‘Would Not Be Productive’
Photo Credit: Southwest Airlines operations in Denver, where a memo was sent to ground workers about the operational emergency. Southwest Airlines / Stephen M. Keller
Skift Take
Major U.S. airlines are each responding differently to surging fuel costs, with some like Southwest and Delta opting not to change their profit outlooks for the year. United and Alaska, on the other hand, have either revised or pulled back guidance.
Southwest Airlines said Wednesday it is not updating its 2026 guidance, despite high fuel costs eating into its bottom line. The carrier had initially forecast earnings per share of $4 for the full year.
“Given the ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, updating the Company's full-year adjusted EPS guidance of $4.00 would not be productive at this time,” Southwest said in an earnings release. “Achieving this outcome would require lower fuel prices and/or stronger revenue performance to offset higher fuel expense.”
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