DALLAS — Most U.S. airways misplaced cash within the first quarter, historically the weakest time of yr for journey, however they’re all eagerly waiting for a summer season of full planes and excessive fares.
American Airways and Southwest Airways mentioned Thursday that they count on to be solidly worthwhile within the second quarter. They joined Delta Air Strains and United Airways in giving an upbeat outlook for the April-through-June interval, which incorporates the beginning of peak season for carriers.
“We see a robust demand surroundings this summer season, and we’re extremely assured that may proceed,” American CEO Robert Isom mentioned on a name with analysts.
Airways are getting a tailwind from leisure vacationers, who’re nonetheless keen to go away house after a protracted pandemic lockdown. Their gaze is shifting this summer season from home locations to abroad.
“Demand is smoking scorching for worldwide locations,” mentioned Ryan Inexperienced, Southwest’s chief industrial officer, “after which it is the standard summer season locations that you’d count on — Florida, the Southwest, Hawaii.”
Southwest misplaced $159 million within the first quarter, which it blamed on fallout from a December meltdown that continued to harm bookings early into this yr. The airline mentioned that it made cash in March, nonetheless, as income picked up, giving it momentum heading into summer season.
American stood out from its friends by eking out a $10 million revenue for the primary quarter as income jumped 37% from a yr earlier. The airline predicted second-quarter earnings per share that may simply beat Wall Road expectations.
American cited power in each home and worldwide bookings.
Within the final two weeks, each Delta and United posted giant losses for the primary quarter but in addition spoke in glowing phrases in regards to the summer season outlook.
Air journey started to rebound from the pandemic final yr, and that has carried into 2023. The variety of vacationers screened at U.S. airport checkpoints in January, February and to this point in April exceeded the identical months in pre-pandemic 2019.
There was a quick scare about bookings slowing down a number of weeks in the past, and United mentioned it noticed a short lived drop in gross sales to company vacationers after the failure of Silicon Valley Financial institution raised fears of a widespread banking disaster.
Each considerations appear to have subsided, nonetheless. Delta CEO Ed Bastian mentioned he noticed no influence on bookings after scary headlines about financial institution failures and tech-industry layoffs.
Airways do face headwinds, nonetheless. Prices for labor and jet gas are up, and airways cannot get all of the planes they need due to manufacturing issues at Boeing that may delay deliveries of latest 737 Max jets.
Southwest deliberate to take 90 Max jets this yr however now expects to get solely 70. That may trigger the airline to rent fewer new employees, CEO Robert Jordan mentioned.
Jordan mentioned Southwest had deliberate to rent 7,000 folks this yr. He didn’t say how a lot that quantity will likely be lower.
Southwest is Boeing’s largest airline buyer, and its fleet consists solely of 737s, whereas American makes use of each Boeing and Airbus jets.
“Happily with this newest concern with the Max, we have not needed to make too many adjustments,” mentioned Isom, the American CEO. “Boeing has been an ideal associate … we’d like them to get their act collectively.”
American, based mostly in Fort Price, Texas, mentioned Thursday that its revenue excluding one-time gadgets was 5 cents per share, a penny higher than analysts predicted after the corporate lowered expectations two weeks in the past.
American mentioned 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 in a FactSet survey.
The airline continued to pay down debt, which peaked at greater than $53 billion in mid-2021. American ended March with $14.4 billion in liquidity — money, short-term investments and accessible credit score.
“We have now some flexibility with this extra liquidity to both additional spend money on the enterprise or doubtlessly use it to pay down debt at a sooner fee,” Chief Monetary Officer Devon Might mentioned in an interview. “That is a choice we will likely be making within the coming months.”
Southwest had already indicated it will lose cash within the first quarter. Thursday’s 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 Wall Road expectations.
Income rose 22% to a first-quarter document of $5.71 billion, barely lower than analysts anticipated.
Dallas-based Southwest mentioned the winter breakdown price $380 million within the quarter from lingering misplaced bookings and additional bills — on prime of $800 million in final yr’s fourth quarter. Southwest did not bounce again after a winter storm simply earlier than Christmas, and its issues have been compounded when its crew-rescheduling system broke down, resulting in 16,700 canceled flights in a 10-day stretch.
Southwest’s common fare was $169, up $10 from a yr in the past. American does not present the identical determine, nevertheless it mentioned that passengers paid 21% extra for every mile they flew.
Airways are relying on that type of pricing energy persevering with and rising into summer season. Sturdy demand for tickets and a restricted provide of flights are preserving common fares excessive, which is able to enhance airline income. However the carriers are going through greater prices for labor and gas, plus the potential of a recession that would hu.1t ticket gross sales.
Shares of Southwest closed down 3.3% whereas American gained 1.1%.