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How do airlines make money?
Airlines sell seats, but tickets alone barely cover the cost of fuel, planes and crews. Together, Delta, United Airlines and Southwest took in $150 billion in their latest years and kept $8.8 billion in profit, $5.85 of every $100.
From each company's latest Form 10-K. Page updated November 8, 2026.
Airlines sell seats, but tickets alone barely cover the cost of fuel, planes and crews. A big share of the profit comes from loyalty programs: banks pay airlines billions for miles they give out with credit cards. Bag and seat fees and cargo add the rest.
| Company | Revenue | Net profit | Kept per $100 | Biggest line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta | $63.4B | $5.0B | $7.90 | Airline |
| United Airlines | $59.1B | $3.4B | $5.68 | Passenger tickets |
| Southwest | $28.1B | $441M | $1.57 | Tickets |
Where each company's money comes from.
United Airlines
How United Airlines makes moneySouthwest
How Southwest makes moneySources: Delta Form 10-K, United Airlines Form 10-K, Southwest Form 10-K on SEC EDGAR.