American Air has small revenue, Southwest loses $159 million

DALLAS — American Airways eked out a slender revenue for the primary quarter, whereas Southwest Airways misplaced $159 million because it felt aftershocks from the December meltdown that precipitated hundreds of canceled flights.

Each airways stated Thursday that they count on to be solidly worthwhile within the April-through-June quarter that features the beginning of the height summer time journey season.

American earned $10 million and income jumped 37% from a yr in the past, as planes had been comparatively full throughout what is generally the slowest journey interval of the yr.

Excluding one-time gadgets, the Fort Price, Texas-based airline stated it earned 5 cents per share, a penny higher than analysts anticipated. The corporate lowered expectations two weeks in the past.

American stated it expects to earn between $1.20 and $1.40 per share within the second quarter, which might beat analysts’ common forecast of $1.04 per share.

Southwest stated that regardless of the first-quarter loss it made cash in March and expects to be again within the black within the second quarter — though it didn’t present a determine.

Southwest had already indicated it could lose cash within the first quarter. The loss was narrower than Southwest’s $278 million loss a yr earlier. After one-time gadgets, it labored out to 27 cents per share, matching the expectation of analysts surveyed by FactSet.

Income rose 22% to a first-quarter report of $5.71 billion, barely lower than analysts anticipated.

The Dallas-based airline stated the winter breakdown price $380 million within the quarter from misplaced bookings and further bills. Southwest did not bounce again after a winter storm simply earlier than Christmas, and its issues had been compounded when its crew-rescheduling system broke down, resulting in 16,700 canceled flights in a 10-day stretch.

Airways are looking forward to this summer time. Robust journey demand and a restricted provide of flights are protecting common fares excessive, which can enhance airline income. However the carriers are dealing with increased prices for labor and gas, plus the potential of a recession that might harm ticket gross sales.