While the four largest U.S. commercial carriers reported record-high operating revenues for the first quarter (Q1) of 2024, only Delta was spared a net loss.
Southwest's expected deliveries of Boeing 737-8s in 2024 have plummeted by 59 aircraft as it faces cost pressure from higher labor and maintenance expenses.
All U.S. Big Four airlines except Southwest are reducing emissions per ASK at a similar rate; Southwest displays low emissions, particularly moving into 2024.
Southwest ponders the costs of transitioning away from all-Boeing fleet while United asks Boeing to stop building MAX 10s for the airline in favor of MAX 9s.
Southwest is looking at shifting future Boeing 737 MAX deliveries even further toward the -8 and reducing its exposure to the -7, according to CEO Bob Jordan.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport handled 22.1 million passengers in 2023, up 4.8% over 2022, which had previously been the airport’s busiest-ever year.
As many challenges begin the year, carriers anticipate high labor and maintenance costs, delivery delays and air traffic control shortages in the rest of 2024.
An event-saturated January followed a year not short on its own challenges, and during recent earnings calls airlines projected which issues might spill over.
