The Government Shutdown has Cost Southwest Airlines This Much in January

Will there ever be an end in sight with the government shutdown? Hundreds of thousands of workers are suffering and so are companies.

Airline Southwest Airlines has said that the shutdown has cost the company as much as $15 million in January.

The largest carrier of U.S. domestic passengers, reported financial results on Thursday and while the revenue impact from the shutdown has been somewhat small so far, it could continue into next month.

It was only a week ago that Delta Air Lines said the shutdown cost it roughly $25 million this month.

Southwest said profit for the fourth quarter was $654 million, or $1.17 a share. This is compared with $1.75 billion, or $2.94 a share a year earlier. Analysts were waiting for $1.08 a share.

The company posted $5.7 billion in revenue in the last three months of the year, beating expectations as well.

“Our remaining work is currently suspended until the government reopens and the FAA is allowed to resume normal certification activities,” Southwest said in its earnings release. “We are anxious for the government to resolve this shutdown so we can bring low fares and a boost to Hawaii’s travel and tourism industry.”

“We are anxious for the government to resolve this shutdown,” Chairman and CEO Gary Kelly stated.

Shares of Southwest have seen a gain of almost 10% since 2019 started.

Disclaimer: We have no position in Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) and have not been compensated for this article.