Opinions wanted... Which airline would you say, currently is the healthiest?

[TMMT]

Which airline or airlines would you say is the healthiest, financially?

 

[Saluki Dawg]

Southwest, Alaska, Allegiant, and Spirit from a balance sheet perspective.

 

[Ty Webb]

I'd have to say that, given the closing of Popeye's in Atlanta's "C" Concourse, all airlines got a little healthier.



[drumroll . . . cymbal splash]

Thanks, I'll be here all year.

 

[GogglesPisano]

Thanks to airline-friendly governments, Emirates and Etihad.

 

[TMMT]

I'd have to say that, given the closing of Popeye's in Atlanta's "C" Concourse, all airlines got a little healthier.



[drumroll . . . cymbal splash]

Thanks, I'll be here all year.

Is the Varsity Grill still open in Terminal F?

 

[jmreii]

Which airline or airlines would you say is the healthiest, financially?

Sorry I don't do Nostrasdamus hocus pocus!

 

[dollacrackho]

Us airways will soon be the healthiest when all the geezers head to the bingo halls en masse.

 

[Flyby1206]

Southwest, Alaska, Allegiant, and Spirit from a balance sheet perspective.

Another vote for this^^^^

 

[SAABaroowski]

Spirit's market cap is 2.1 Billion, profit margin for March was 8% (Dal was .8%), no long term debt, over $400,000,000.00 cash. I'd say they look pretty Healthy. Lets hope it continues while the company grows and we get some large contract gains in 2015+

 

[dalad]

It's a three way toss up between Braniff, Pan Am and Eastern.

 

[Flyer1015]

Obviously Virgin America

 

[LearLove]

DC Air

 

[General Lee]

I'd have to say that, given the closing of Popeye's in Atlanta's "C" Concourse, all airlines got a little healthier.



[drumroll . . . cymbal splash]

Thanks, I'll be here all year.

It's now in the B terminal. Come on over and ask for extra crispy spicy chicken strips. Sooooo good, and good for you!


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[Dan Roman]

It's a three way toss up between Braniff, Pan Am and Eastern.

Just prior to deregulation, Braniff, was in fact one of the most profitable airlines in the U.S. There was a time when PanAm was a financial powerhouse and at one point in the 80's, Eastern was the largest U.S. carrier. Who would have thought the UAL of the 90's would sink to what it became in the next decade?
The bottom line is, past performance doesn't guaranty anything. Every airline will change management over time and they will change.

 

[pilotyip]

Spirit, most profit per airplane, almost unlimited growth potential, people shop by ticket price, Spirit always wins. They are stealing passengers from Grey hound. CEO said 80% of the people buying tickets shop price, they have 1% of the market, their goal is 3% in 10 years, that is an airline that will triple in 10 years, that means new hires this year are in the left seat in 4-5 years.

 

[johnsonrod]

Thanks to airline-friendly governments, Emirates and Etihad.

And thanks to the U.S. Exim bank financing (subsidized by US taxpayers) for their shiney new 777s (that they would order anyway)...

 

[madjack]

If Spirit can improve its image of "terrible service but cheap tickets" they could really hurt the competition (i.e. SWA)

 

[Ops check good]

It's now in the B terminal. Come on over and ask for extra crispy spicy chicken strips. Sooooo good, and good for you!


Bye Bye---General Lee

Ahhh, so thats where you work.

 

[BentOver]

If Spirit can improve its image of "terrible service but cheap tickets" they could really hurt the competition (i.e. SWA)

But to get quality service they would have to pay more.. Thus no more cheap tickets.... It's the ultimate airline catch 22

 

[SAABaroowski]

Lol, the poor customer service ratings have to be because people get irate and passed off when they try to sneak a bag on and have to pay $100 at the gate. I worked in the Continental system for 7 years and I have yet to see people treated as poorly at Spirit than what I witnessed at CAL/UAL. The FAs and gate Agents seem much more pleasant here at Spirit than they do at most legacies

 

[fam62c]

If Spirit can improve its image of "terrible service but cheap tickets" they could really hurt the competition (i.e. SWA)

There will always be a place for an airline that offers the cheapest tickets and can do it profitably, that's what built SW. Spirit has a lot of potential if they keep doing what they are doing. Rapid growth will keep the costs down, again, the same model SW used in it's heyday before it got too big to grow at double digit rates. Right now Spirit can enter most markets and set ticket prices at a level where they can be profitable and their competitors can not if they match the fares, that's a powerful competitive advantage.

 

[densoo]

In the U.S. legacy category--Delta.

 

[Jim]

...that means new hires this year are in the left seat in 4-5 years.

Left seat for right seat pay. Spirit pilots need to ensure some of that profit is redirected into their contract. They made a great start last time and I hope they can continue the trend with their next contract.

 

[JonnyKnoxville]

FedEx, UPS?

 

[SAABaroowski]

Left seat for right seat pay. Spirit pilots need to ensure some of that profit is redirected into their contract. They made a great start last time and I hope they can continue the trend with their next contract.

It didnt help that airlines like Continental, United & Us Airways had horrible pay rates in 2010 when our contract was ratified. You're right though, hopefully we can get huge gains..........

 

[ROSWELL41]

Spirit is probably the healthiest pound for pound in the U.S. market. Delta is probably the healthiest legacy carrier although they are carrying a lot of debt. SWA may be the financially strongest large U.S. carrier.

In regard to Spirit's contract, yes, their A320 pay rates are middle of the road (better than US Air's current contract). Their work rules are superior in most ways to all legacy carriers and most LCC's (save for some parts of SWAs and FedExs contracts). Their retirement could use some enhancement as they have no B fund or profit sharing.

 

[ron burgundy]

The one that hasn't started up yet!

 

[Flyby1206]

The one that hasn't started up yet!

Oh god, lets hope there are no more startups. More consolidation and pricing power for the 4-5 airlines left!