Southwest Airlines forecasts quarterly earnings below estimates on higher fuel

southwest airlines forecast second-quarter earnings below analyst estimates, citing higher fuel prices. it expects to earn between 35 cents and 65 cents a share, while analysts had expected 55 cents. the airline is holding off on updating its full-year 2026 forecast, which it had previously set at $4 per share. it said achieving that would require lower fuel prices or stronger revenue. for the second quarter, southwest expects capacity to be flat or up no more than 1%, with unit revenues rising 16.5% to 18.5% over last year. in the first quarter, southwest swung to a profit of $227 million, or 45 cents a share, from a loss a year earlier. revenue rose nearly 13% to $7.25 billion, slightly below wall street expectations.