After what it said were "operational disruptions in December 2022", Southwest Airlines said it expects to report a net loss in the fourth quarter of 2022, with revenue down by around US $4oo million.
In a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the carrier gave a "preliminary estimated fourth quarter 2022 pre-tax negative impact in the range of US $725 million to US $825 million", of which "a significant portion" would derive from "estimated revenue loss in the range of US $400 million to US $425 million".
As a severe winter storm hit much of the US around Christmas, Southwest cancelled 16,700 flights between December 21 and 31, prompting widespread criticism, including from the US government, and leaving the carrier facing a hefty bill for what it said were "estimated travel expense reimbursements to customers".
The carrier had earlier reported a strong 2022 as the US aviation sector rebounded from the worst of the coronavirus pandemic and related travel curbs.