Southwest Airlines reinstates dividend after Coronavirus suspension

Southwest Airlines Co. said it would reinstate its dividend following a pause of more than two years, becoming the first major US carrier to resume the shareholder payouts after they were suspended during the pandemic as a condition of receiving government aid.

Southwest’s board approved a quarterly dividend of 18 cents a share to be paid on Jan. 31, according to a statement Wednesday. The airline had notched a string of consecutive quarterly payouts for 43 years that ended in early 2020 as pandemic lockdowns began. The restriction on dividends tied to US financial aid ended in September of this year.

The resumption “reflects the strong return in demand for air travel and the company’s solid operating and financial results since March 2022,” Chief Executive Officer Bob Jordan said in the statement.

US carriers have expressed confidence that the ongoing rebound in demand from both leisure and business travelers will continue into 2023 despite the possibility of an economic recession. With the industry finding its footing following a slump early in the pandemic, Southwest had hinted on recent investor calls at its eagerness to bring dividends back.

The carrier on Wednesday also reiterated financial forecasts for the fourth quarter. In presentation materials ahead of an investor meeting, Southwest said unit costs that have remained elevated should decline for full-year 2023 as flying capacity expands by about 15% from this year.

Southwest will boost capital spending to between $4 billion and $4.5 billion in 2023, and expects to average about $4 billion annually in 2024 through 2026 as it takes new aircraft to replace its aging Boeing Co. 737-700 fleet. The airline also will step up debt repayments now scheduled for 2025 and 2026 as it reverts to a long-term minimum cash balance target of $6 billion plus a revolving credit agreement, down from $13.5 billion.

The shares were little changed in light trading before the markets opened in New York. The stock slipped 7.4% this year through Tuesday’s close, better than the 17% decline in the S&P 500 Index.