Operating Expenses
Aircraft fuel
Southwest Airlines Aircraft fuel increased by 1.7% to $1.36B in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 8.6%, from $1.25B to $1.36B. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Aircraft fuel shows an upward trend with a 12.2% CAGR. This is a positive signal — lower values indicate better performance for this metric.
Analysis
StatementIncome Statement
SectionOperating Expenses
CategoryEfficiency
SignalLower is better
VolatilityVolatile
First reportedQ1 2013
Last reportedQ1 2026Apr 23, 2026
How to read this metric
An increase suggests rising energy costs or higher flight volume, while a decrease indicates lower fuel prices or improved fuel efficiency.
Detailed definition
This metric represents the total expenditure on aviation fuel, including related taxes, hedging impacts, and refinery co...
Peer comparison
Standardized across the airline industry as a primary operating expense line item.
Metric ID:
aircraft_fuelHistorical Data
20 periods
| Q2 '21 | Q3 '21 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q3 '22 | Q4 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q3 '23 | Q4 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q3 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | Q1 '26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $803.00M | $990.00M | $1.05B | $1.00B | $1.64B | $1.75B | $1.59B | $1.55B | $1.40B | $1.56B | $1.70B | $1.53B | $1.60B | $1.42B | $1.26B | $1.25B | $1.33B | $1.33B | $1.33B | $1.36B |
| QoQ Change | — | +23.3% | +6.0% | -4.3% | +62.9% | +7.0% | -9.4% | -2.4% | -9.3% | +11.5% | +8.9% | -10.1% | +4.4% | -11.4% | -10.8% | -1.2% | +6.2% | +0.4% | +0.2% | +1.7% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | +103.7% | +76.8% | +51.1% | +54.1% | -14.2% | -10.6% | +7.4% | -1.0% | +14.0% | -9.4% | -25.8% | -18.4% | -17.1% | -6.1% | +5.5% | +8.6% |
Range$803.00M – $1.75B
CAGR+11.7%
Avg YoY Growth+13.7%
Median YoY Growth+2.2%
Current Streak4 quarters growth
Aircraft fuel at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Southwest Airlines's aircraft fuel?
- Southwest Airlines (LUV) reported aircraft fuel of $1.36B in Q1 2026.
- How has Southwest Airlines's aircraft fuel changed year-over-year?
- Southwest Airlines's aircraft fuel increased by 8.6% year-over-year, from $1.25B to $1.36B.
- What is the long-term trend for Southwest Airlines's aircraft fuel?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Southwest Airlines's aircraft fuel has grown at a 12.2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $3.31B to $5.24B.
- What does aircraft fuel mean?
- The total cost of fuel and associated taxes required to power the airline's fleet.