Southwest provides Q2 guidance

Southwest Airlines continues to expect its second quarter 2017 operating revenue per available seat mile (RASM) to increase in the one to two percent range, as compared with second quarter 2016. Based on current cost trends and excluding fuel and oil expense, special items, and profit-sharing expense, Southwest continues to expect its second quarter 2017 unit costs to increase approximately six percent 1 and its annual 2017 unit costs to increase approximately three percent, both year-over-year. The airline says that it continues to expect its cost inflation to abate dramatically in second half 2017 to end this year with fourth