Southwest Airls Co Stock Price, News & Analysis

Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) has announced its 184th quarterly dividend declaration. The company's Board of Directors has approved a cash dividend of $0.18 per share for shareholders. The dividend will be paid on April 2, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 12, 2025. This dividend applies to all issued and outstanding shares of the company.

Southwest Airlines (LUV) reported fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results with net income of $261 million ($0.42 per share) and $465 million ($0.76 per share), respectively. The company achieved record revenues of $6.9 billion for Q4 and $27.5 billion for the full year.

Key highlights include an 8.0% increase in Q4 revenues per available seat mile, strong liquidity of $9.7 billion against $6.7 billion in debt, and $680 million returned to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases in 2024. The company announced a new $750 million accelerated share repurchase program.

Looking ahead to 2025, Southwest expects Q1 capacity to decrease 2-3% year-over-year, with RASM projected to increase 5-7%. The company aims for a 2025 operating margin of 3-5% and targets reaching ≥10% by 2027. Southwest continues to execute its transformation plan while focusing on cost reduction initiatives and fleet modernization.

Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) has announced it will host a live webcast to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 12:30 PM Eastern Time.

The presentation will feature key executives including Bob Jordan (President, CEO, and Vice Chairman), Andrew Watterson (Chief Operating Officer), Ryan Green (EVP and Chief Transformation Officer), and Tammy Romo (EVP and Chief Financial Officer). The webcast will be accessible through Southwest Airlines' investor relations website, with registration opening 20 minutes before the call.

Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) has announced it will host a live webcast to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 12:30 PM Eastern Time. The presentation will feature key executives including Bob Jordan (President, CEO, and Vice Chairman), Andrew Watterson (COO), Ryan Green (EVP and Chief Transformation Officer), and Tammy Romo (EVP and CFO).

The webcast will be accessible through the company's investor relations website, with registration opening 20 minutes before the call begins. Investors can access the event through Southwest's main website under the 'Investor Relations' section in the 'About Southwest' menu.

Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) has achieved a significant milestone by completing the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), a globally recognized safety evaluation system. The certification, announced on January 17, 2025, places Southwest on the IOSA Registry for two years, requiring subsequent audits for continued registration.

The IOSA certification, which assessed safety standards across all operating departments, is a requirement for IATA membership and represents the highest global standard for airline operational safety. This achievement follows Southwest's first airline partnership with Icelandair announced in September 2024, and positions the company for potential new partnerships.

Southwest currently operates at 117 airports across 11 countries, employs over 73,000 people, and served more than 137 million customers in 2023. The airline maintains its position as the carrier with the most nonstop domestic travelers in the United States.

Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) announced the retirement of two key executives effective April 1, 2025. Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Tammy Romo and Chief Administration Officer Linda Rutherford will step down from their positions after serving over three decades each.

Romo, who joined in 1991, has overseen finance activities, Supply Chain Management, Corporate Strategy, Fuel Strategy & Management, Fleet Strategy & Management, and Environmental Sustainability since becoming CFO in 2012. Rutherford, who joined in 1992, currently oversees Culture & Communications, Internal Audit, People, Talent & Leadership, Total Rewards, Technology, and Southwest University.

Southwest will begin a search for Romo's replacement. The airline currently operates at 117 airports across 11 countries, employs over 73,000 people, and served more than 137 million customers in 2023.

Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) has announced a sale and leaseback agreement with BBAM for 36 Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The aircraft will be owned and leased back to Southwest through Incline Aviation III, BBAM's third aviation investment fund.

The transaction is part of Southwest's 'Southwest. Even Better.' transformation plan announced in September at Investor Day. The deal aims to monetize surplus value from the existing fleet to generate significant cash, which will be used to drive fleet modernization and offset capital expenditures in support of the airline's capital allocation strategy.

Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) has announced a significant sale and leaseback agreement with BBAM for 36 Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The aircraft will be owned and leased back to Southwest through BBAM's Incline Aviation III investment fund.

This strategic transaction is part of Southwest's 'Southwest. Even Better.' transformation plan unveiled in September. According to Tammy Romo, Southwest's EVP and CFO, the deal aims to monetize surplus value from their existing Boeing 737 fleet, generating substantial cash to support fleet modernization and offset capital expenditures in line with their capital allocation strategy.

The partnership involves BBAM, a major aircraft lessor managing over 500 aircraft and serving more than 100 airline customers across 50+ countries. Southwest Airlines, which carried over 137 million customers in 2023, operates at 117 airports across 11 countries with more than 73,000 employees.

Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) has appointed Aileen Furlong as its new Vice President Sales, effective January 6, 2025. Furlong will lead the Southwest Business function, which serves corporate customers and travel management companies. She joins Southwest after a 23-year career at United Airlines, where she most recently served as Managing Director, Global Corporate Sales.

The appointment aligns with Southwest's strategy to unite its revenue production disciplines - Revenue Management, Pricing, and Southwest Business - under a single leadership structure. Furlong brings extensive experience in sales, loyalty programs, marketing, and customer experience. She has been recognized as one of the 'Top 50 Women in Travel' by GBTA twice and holds an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management.