# Southwest Airlines profit rises, but forecasts fall short of expectations Higher ticket prices helped offset rising fuel costs. - **Source:** [US Top News and Analysis](https://brifing.si/source/635540e9-943e-450d-ae52-ae0bfe3b67eb) - **Published:** 2026-07-22 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/34de85e9-f277-40d0-940c-d6c0a64825f4 ## Profit Increase Southwest Airlines reported a more than 9% increase in second-quarter profit compared to the same period last year. This growth was driven by passengers paying higher ticket prices, which helped cover rising fuel costs. ## Fuel Costs The airline's fuel bill rose by nearly $900 million year-over-year in the second quarter. This highlights the impact of global energy price increases on the airline industry. ## Q3 Forecast Southwest forecast adjusted earnings of 50-75 cents for the third quarter, well below analysts' expectations of 82 cents. This reflects the challenges the company faces in the coming months. ## Revenue vs. Expectations The company's Q2 revenue came in at $8.43 billion, missing Wall Street's $8.58 billion estimate. Adjusted earnings per share were reported at 94 cents. ## Industry Developments Other airlines like Delta and Spirit are facing similar challenges. Delta aims to expand its Pacific routes, while Spirit struggles with high fuel prices and declining travel spending. ## Implications Southwest's performance shows how the airline industry is coping with fuel costs and demand fluctuations. While higher ticket prices help in the short term, a more balanced strategy is needed for long-term growth. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/22/southwest-airlines-luv-2q-2026-earnings.html — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._