By Bill Zeeble, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-850570.mp3
Dallas, TX –
Southwest Airlines says made money in the 2nd quarter of 2009, but the Dallas based giant worries about future profits in the continuing economic downturn. KERA's Bill Zeeble has more.
Southwest carries more u.s. passengers than any other airline, but fewer people are flying. The company earned 54 million dollars in the quarter, but a year ago, it earned roughly 6 times that. CEO Gary Kelly called this one of the worst revenue environments for the airlines, ever.
As a result, he said he couldn't predict a profitable 3rd quarter, especially given weak business travel and volatile fuel costs. Kelly said 14 hundred workers agreed to an early buy out offer, which should save the carrier money over the next several years. Southwest also launched a fare sale recently to boost business.