Southwest Airlines Free Cash Flow (FCF) History (LUV)

Southwest Airlines reported −$831.0M in free cash flow for fiscal 2025, an increase of $761.0M from the previous fiscal year, with a free cash flow margin of −2.96%.

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Southwest Airlines free cash flow by year

Southwest Airlines annual free cash flow

Fiscal yearPeriod endedFree cash flowChangeGrowthFCF margin
20252025-12-31−$831.0M$761.0M−2.96%
20242024-12-31−$1.59B−$1.24B−5.79%
20232023-12-31−$356.0M−$222.0M−1.36%
20222022-12-31−$134.0M−$1.95B−0.56%
20212021-12-31$1.82B$3.46B+11.51%
20202020-12-31−$1.64B−$4.60B−18.15%
20192019-12-31$2.96B−$11.0M−0.37%+13.20%
20182018-12-31$2.97B$1.17B+64.51%+13.53%
20172017-12-31$1.81B−$449.0M−19.91%+8.54%
20162016-12-31$2.25B$1.06B+88.39%+11.11%
20152015-12-31$1.20B$43.0M+3.73%+6.04%
20142014-12-31$1.15B$124.0M+12.04%+6.20%
20132013-12-31$1.03B$314.0M+43.85%+5.82%
20122012-12-31$716.0M$328.0M+84.54%+4.19%
20112011-12-31$388.0M−$680.0M−63.67%+2.48%
20102010-12-31$1.07B$668.0M+167.00%+8.82%
20092009-12-31$400.0M$2.84B+3.86%
20082008-12-31−$2.44B−$3.96B−22.17%
20072007-12-31$1.51B+15.35%

Southwest Airlines free cash flow growth trends

Over the last five reported fiscal years, free cash flow grew from −$1.64B to −$831.0M, a net increase of $811.0M. Southwest Airlines's latest reported quarter, Q2 2026, generated −$288.0M in free cash flow, a decrease of $29.0M year over year.

About the metric

What free cash flow means

Free cash flow is the cash a company generates from operations after capital expenditures. Positive FCF can fund dividends, buybacks, debt repayment, or reinvestment; negative FCF means capital spending exceeded operating cash flow for that period.

Calculation and source

How free cash flow is calculated

TickerStat calculates free cash flow as SEC-reported operating cash flow minus capital expenditures. FCF margin equals free cash flow divided by revenue. Fiscal periods can differ from calendar years, so the tables include exact period-end dates.

Review Southwest Airlines filings at SEC.gov ↗