1st Q Numbers look great!

[FWAAA]

I come with a different number than what your article states.  I took 152,000,000 (Q1-2014) X 298% and came up with 452,960,000 mil.  It is just shy of tripling the profits which would be a 300% increase.  But either way we look at it it is still a fantastic Q1 and more profit sharing for all to enjoy.
Another way is to take 453,000,000 divided by 152,000,000 = 2.98 move 2 positions to convert to % = 298%.

Where to begin? Nearly everything you posted above is incorrect. The most hilarious part is when you talked about the differences between your math and "your article states" (referring to the Southwest Airlines press release quoted and linked by your co-worker, WNMECH).

The press release was written and reviewed by management and is correct. WN's first quarter earnings were 267% larger than a year ago. 267% is almost a quadrupling, not a tripling.

Contrary to your post above, a tripling of profits is not a 300% increase. A 300% increase would be a quadrupling of profits. Look at it this way: when something doubles, that's a 100% increase. When something triples, that's a 200% increase. When something quadruples, that's a 300% increase. You showed your work, but you started off with the wrong 1Q2014 figure of $152 million, which includes special items. Your employer used the better Q1 number of $124 million from last year, and that's the one that EXCLUDES special items.

And yes, the first quarter profits were almost quadruple the year-ago Q1 profits, and the 267% increase is correct.

All in all, a great first quarter. Fuel costs were down by about $432 million (economic cost, excluding paper mark to market gains or losses on future hedges). If fuel costs stay level for the rest of the year, WN should spend about $1.7 billion less on fuel this year compared to last year.

 

[WNMECH]

I come with a different number than what your article states.   
 
Southwest Airlines earnings nearly triple in first quarter
 
Southwest tops Street 1Q forecasts

I posted the actual press release from WN with all the exact accounting numbers.
Read it and its charts closely.

You posted links to two articles by reporters with bad math skills, commenting on our profits as FWAAA noted.

I saw the article saying profits almost tripled as well but didn't post it because it was wrong.

 

[does this plane go to paris]

8:33 am Southwest Air announces that it flew 9.9 billion revenue passenger miles in April 2015, an 8.6% increase from the 9.1 billion RPMs flown in April 2014 (LUV) : Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 6.7 percent to 11.9 billion in April 2015, compared with the April 2014 level of 11.2 billion. The April 2015 load factor was 83.1 percent, compared with 81.7 percent in April 2014. For April 2015, passenger revenue per ASM PRASM) is estimated to have decreased approximately 2.0 percent, compared with April 2014.
For the first four months of 2015, the Company flew 35.8 billion RPMs, compared with 33.3 billion RPMs flown for the same period in 2014, an increase of 7.5 percent. Year-to-date ASMs increased 6.2 percent to a level of 44.2 billion, compared with the 41.6 billion for the same period in 2014. The year-to-date load factor was 80.9 percent, compared with 79.9 percent for the same period in 2014.

 

[swamt]

Impressive numbers.  Huge jump YOY.  Fantastic start for the 2nd Q.  Still adding flights and cities as well as international thru 15.  Looking forward to full 2nd Q numbers and thru-out 15.  Thx for the good news paris...

 

[WorldTraveler]

It is impressive but remember that much of WN's new capacity is to/from major business markets like DAL, DCA, and LGA which are not at all typical of the strategies that WN used to build its network in the past involving adding high frequency service into poorly served markets which WN could dominate.

In complete contrast, WN is adding service into business markets which were well served by other carriers but not by WN.

WN's push into DAL, DCA, and LGA was part of its strategy to become a true nationwide domestic carrier by having at least a reasonable sized presence to the top business markets from at least WN's top focus cities/hubs.

WN's growth is going well because they are pushing into large business markets.

WN realized several years ago that they had a network which was not compatible with competing with the big 3 so they engaged in a massive campaign to convince the world how disadvantaged they were because they had never bothered to invest in access to the biggest business markets in the NE as the legacy carriers have done for years.

The whole AA/US slot divestiture which WN reaped immensely from was the fruit of WN's campaign which dovetailed with the revisions to the Wright Amendment which provided enormous access to the Dallas market which WN had not been able to gain before.

and given that WN's RASM dropped by a couple percent even while adding 7-8% of capacity, it says that WN's ability to grow while maintaining revenue is about 5% - which is in line with what B6 and DL are seeing - which are also expanding their domestic networks.

AS is actually adding a lot higher percentage of domestic capacity than WN but is seeing yields and RASM drop more than WN, so AS is actually probably doing a better job than other US carriers in finding places to grow capacity while minimizing yield erosion.

However, all of this domestic growth is possible because of consolidation that has gotten rid of a lot of lower fare capacity - including what which was flown by FL and because of low fuel prices.

None of this growth would be possible were it not for low fuel prices. All of the airlines that are growing are doing it by using part of the savings from low fuel prices to offset the risk that otherwise comes with growth

 

[swamt]

Deserves repeating here is more on the April numbers.  Thx to all the SWA employees and customers who have made this happen. Shareholders must be getting pretty exited. I knew this was going to be big for 2015, but I had no clue the increases would be that big YOY April.  I admit I am a little surprised but very pleasantly surprised. Look forward to this continuing thru the rest of 15 and beyond...
 
Southwest Airlines April Traffic Up 8.6%, Load Factor Increases By 1.4 Points

 

[WorldTraveler]

Given that WN's revenue performance is in line with what other carriers are reporting and their growth is possible because WN gained access to key business markets, stockholders are undoubtedly far more EXCITED that WN mgmt. has been able to keep labor costs from growing by dragging out negotiations with its largest workgroups while competitors are increasing the pay for their employees.

Before long, WN's compensation packages will be much more in line with what competitors are paying which is what WN knew it had to do and which stockholders want to see happen.

 

[robbedagain]

terrific job to all the hard working front line folks at WN  congrats!

 

[swamt]

Some more good numbers expected for 15 and 16 forward looking.  Again the determination from SWA to take care of the shareholders 14-16.  Looks good moving forward...
 
Southwest Airlines (LUV) Announces 25% Dividend Increase, New $1.5B Buyback Plan

 

[WorldTraveler]

both numbers trail what another competitor announced today - and that other carrier is providing far larger increases in compensation to its employees as well.

based on stock market trading at this hour, the majority of the industry is down - but one airline is up by over 2%.

Oil is up - which usually leads to lower airline stock prices.

 

[WorldTraveler]

as predicted another ATL market bites the dust in the face of low WN frequencies and competition from two legacy carriers.

ATL-SFO ends but will be replaced by ATL-OAK which DL does not fly.

http://www.blogsouthwest.com/t-minus-154-days-to-intl-oct-additions-nov-dec-2015-schedule/

 

[swamt]

Anticipating another great 2nd Q earnings.  Another great boost YOY for the month of June at DAL Love Field.  Good increases for all the airlines serving DAL since the W/A opened up.  No wonder it's such a nightmare trying to non-rev as of late...
 
Dallas Love Field traffic climbs 60 percent in June

 

[WorldTraveler]

very nice numbers from WN this a.m. for the June 2015 quarter.

As expected, fuel savings in the midst of a strong domestic demand environment despite softer yields are driving strong profits.

Good job to WN mgmt. and employees for executing a very strong strategy.

WN employees will certainly enjoy the doubling of profit sharing from 2014 to 2015. WN's labor expenses (non-PS) were up over 14%, the largest among the big 4 so far (AA has yet to report).

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/southwest-airlines-reports-record-quarterly-111000281.html

 

[swamt]

Another record 2Q.  And bookings for 3Q looking very strong.  Congrats to all SWA employees for a job very well done.  Just some more added strength while we go into mediation for contract talks.  Looking forward to full year 15 as well as 16 results...
 
Southwest Airlines posts record profit in second quarter

 

[robbedagain]

congrats to all the Frontline folks at SWA    keep up the great work all