Southwest's quarterly profit misses estimates, but airline says U.S. travel demand is stabilizing

1. Southwest's Q2 earnings missed expectations, impacting investor confidence. 2. The airline announced a $2 billion share buyback to support stock price. 3. Travel demand stabilized, but unit revenue outlook shows potential declines. 4. Southwest overhauls its model, moving to assigned seating and fewer free bags. 5. Net income decreased 42%, indicating challenges in the competitive landscape.