Southwest Airlines Company (LUV) — Free Cash Flow Generation Index

Latest as of March 2026: 0.56x

Southwest Airlines Company (LUV) has a Free Cash Flow Generation Index of 0.56x as of March 2026. Free cash flow of $788.00 Million represents 1% of operating cash flow ($1.42 Billion). Explore capital reinvestment ratio of Southwest Airlines Company to see what proportion of operating cash flow is directed to capital expenditures.

FCF Generation Index

0.56x
Free Cash Flow / Operating CF

Free Cash Flow

$788.00 Million
USD

Operating Cash Flow

$1.42 Billion
USD

Capital Expenditures

$630.00 Million
USD

Southwest Airlines Company Free Cash Flow Generation Index (1989–2025)

Historical FCF Generation Index trend for Southwest Airlines Company across 35 annual periods. For the full cash flow conversion analysis, see LUV cash generation efficiency.

Annual Free Cash Flow Generation for Southwest Airlines Company (1989–2025)

Year-by-year Free Cash Flow Generation Index for Southwest Airlines Company. Check LUV cash flow reinvestment rate to assess the company's total reinvestment commitment from operating cash flow.

Year FCG Index Free Cash Flow (USD) Operating CF Capital Expenditures YoY Change
2025 -0.45x $-831.00 Million $1.84 Billion $2.67 Billion ▲ +87.1%
2024 -3.50x $-1.62 Billion $462.00 Million $2.08 Billion ▼ -2748.5%
2023 -0.12x $-389.00 Million $3.16 Billion $3.55 Billion ▼ -198.7%
2022 -0.04x $-156.00 Million $3.79 Billion $3.95 Billion ▼ -105.3%
2021 0.78x $1.81 Billion $2.32 Billion $511.00 Million ▲ +5.1%
2019 0.74x $2.96 Billion $3.99 Billion $1.03 Billion ▲ +24.5%
2018 0.60x $2.92 Billion $4.89 Billion $1.98 Billion ▲ +39.4%
2017 0.43x $1.68 Billion $3.93 Billion $2.25 Billion ▼ -14.5%
2016 0.50x $2.15 Billion $4.29 Billion $2.15 Billion ▲ +47.8%
2015 0.34x $1.09 Billion $3.24 Billion $2.14 Billion ▼ -8.6%
2014 0.37x $1.07 Billion $2.90 Billion $1.83 Billion ▼ -11.6%
2013 0.42x $1.04 Billion $2.49 Billion $1.45 Billion ▲ +20.7%
2012 0.35x $716.00 Million $2.06 Billion $1.35 Billion ▲ +15.2%
2011 0.30x $417.00 Million $1.39 Billion $968.00 Million ▼ -56.0%
2010 0.68x $1.07 Billion $1.56 Billion $493.00 Million ▲ +68.5%
2009 0.41x $400.00 Million $985.00 Million $585.00 Million ▼ -23.7%
2007 0.53x $1.51 Billion $2.85 Billion $1.33 Billion ▲ +10588.8%
2006 0.00x $7.00 Million $1.41 Billion $1.40 Billion ▼ -98.9%
2005 0.46x $1.02 Billion $2.23 Billion $1.21 Billion ▲ +185.6%
2004 -0.53x $-618.00 Million $1.16 Billion $1.77 Billion ▼ -828.2%
2003 0.07x $98.00 Million $1.34 Billion $1.24 Billion ▲ +146.1%
2002 -0.16x $-82.85 Million $520.21 Million $603.06 Million ▼ -148.6%
2001 0.33x $486.76 Million $1.48 Billion $997.84 Million ▲ +160.1%
2000 0.13x $163.64 Million $1.30 Billion $1.13 Billion ▲ +176.0%
1999 -0.17x $-166.12 Million $1.00 Billion $1.17 Billion ▼ -141.1%
1998 -0.07x $-60.96 Million $886.13 Million $947.10 Million ▲ +46.4%
1997 -0.13x $-78.34 Million $610.59 Million $688.93 Million ▼ -26.9%
1996 -0.10x $-62.20 Million $615.23 Million $677.43 Million ▲ +83.0%
1995 -0.60x $-272.20 Million $456.44 Million $728.64 Million ▲ +34.5%
1994 -0.91x $-375.98 Million $412.67 Million $788.65 Million ▼ -172.1%
1993 -0.33x $-131.50 Million $392.70 Million $524.20 Million ▲ +38.8%
1992 -0.55x $-144.70 Million $264.50 Million $409.20 Million ▲ +76.3%
1991 -2.31x $-237.90 Million $103.20 Million $341.10 Million ▼ -25.3%
1990 -1.84x $-205.80 Million $111.90 Million $317.70 Million ▼ -229.0%
1989 -0.56x $-93.90 Million $168.00 Million $261.90 Million
FCG Index = Free Cash Flow / Operating Cash Flow. FCF = Operating CF + Capital Expenditures (capex stored negative).