Thursday, January 23, 2014

Southwest Airlines reports record 4th quarter and yearly profits

Southwest Airlines 737-8H4 (35966/4239) N8324A at John Wayne Orange County Airport (SNA/KSNA) on January 19, 2014.
(Photo by Michael Carter)

Southwest continued its winning streak, closing a record-breaking year with a record-setting December quarter profit of $212 million.

The airline achieved that profit of 30 cents per share, counting special items, despite the federal government shutdown that briefly slowed travel. And the fourth-quarter capped what was the 41st consecutive year of profitability for the low-cost airline, which flies more domestic passengers than any other U.S. carrier.

For all of 2013, Southwest reaped a record $754 million profit, or $1.05 a share, counting special items, versus a $421 million profit, or 56 cents per share for all of 2012, also counting special charges.

"We are extremely proud of these record results,'' Gary Kelly, Southwest's president and CEO, said in a written statement.

Southwest's profit during the last three months of 2013 was in contrast to the $78 million profit, or 11 cents per share, earned in the last three months of 2012, counting special charges.

(Charisse Jones - USAToday)

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