The government shutdown cost Southwest Airlines $60 million

Southwest Airlines took a $60 million revenue loss from the recent partial government shutdown, reports CNBC.

The airline lost money because fewer government workers and contractors were traveling during the shutdown, which stretched between December and January. The closure also halted plans to introduce new jets and routes, per CNBC. The company last estimated the loss to be between $10 million and $15 million, but since then has "continued to experience softness in passenger demand and bookings" due to the shutdown, reports CNBC.

Shares in the airline were down by more than 5 percent on Wednesday after Southwest projected a lower revenue outlook for the quarter. Both Delta and American Airlines saw a drop in shares as well, per CNBC. Aside from hurting air travel profits, the 35-day shutdown cost the American economy $11 billion, $3 billion of which will never be recovered.

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