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Profits Flying High on US Airways Turnaround

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Grandpa +65

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Profits Flying High on US Airways Turnaround
By Robert Herbst
Coming next month AirlineFinancials.com estimates US Airways (LCC) will report an all time record 3rd quarter profit of $225 million from $3.2 billion in projected operating revenue.
This record high profit and near record 3rd quarter revenue, follows US Airways 2nd quarter 2010 profit margin of 8.36%. When comparing the nine largest US airlines, Alaska’s (ALK) 8.6% was the only profit margin higher than US Airways for the recent 2nd quarter.
Less than two years ago, US Airways reported a 3rd quarter loss of $242 million (including special items, the loss was $865 million). Toward the end of 2008, United (UAUA) and US Airways were at the top of many analysts’ list of carriers that were most likely to join the growing graveyard of failed airlines.
Just over 10 months ago in a conference call, US Airways CEO Doug Parker stated:
I think those of us [airlines] who are around have made it through a very difficult time. – It is not over – is probably the best way to say it. …This is still… what has to happen; we have to get this industry back to profitability.
The standard can’t just be survival. We passed that standard but there is a higher standard out there which is getting actual returns for investors on their investment.
Not only have Mr. Parker and the US Airways employees turned their airline around but they are now leading the industry in several categories.
Operationally, US Airways on-time performance generally leads the legacy airlines. Additionally, US Airways receives fewer consumer complaints than most other legacy carriers.
In the last year, US Airways stock is up well over 200%. Excluding United, which had a higher stock return due to their merger with Continental (CAL), US Airways stock increase was over twice the return achieved by the other seven major airlines over the same time period (see following chart – time period is prior 52 weeks as of September 1st, 2010).AirlineFinancials.com believes there are two primary reasons why US Airways is outperforming most of the industry on the cost side.
· Approximately two years ago, US Airways management made the decision to not hedge fuel. Excluding US Airways, all of the major airlines currently have some type of fuel hedging program. - In short, fuel hedging is a type of insurance airlines purchase to offset the price volatility of jet fuel. This “insurance” is very expensive and drives a negative return when actual fuel prices remain more or less stable. – The bottom line for the past several months is after reconciling the cost of fuel hedges compared to industry competitors, US Airways has a fuel cost advantage of approximately 3-7% for their net fuel cost.
· Excluding much smaller low cost carriers JetBlue (JBLU) and Air Tran (AAI), US Airways has the lowest labor costs in the industry.
Recognizing that fuel and labor represent the two highest cost items for airlines, US Airways has a significant cost advantage over competitors.
For year 2009, US Airways labor costs were 26.7% of operating revenues compared to Continental at 27.9%, United at 28.4%, Delta (DAL) at 30.0%, Alaska at 31.4%, Southwest (LUV) at 33.5%, and American (AMR) tops the list at 34.8% (see following chart – all ratios are for mainline operations).
To put this in some perspective (see note), compared to the largest competitors US Airways has a labor cost advantage of $97 million over Continental, $140 million over United, $268 million over Delta, $551 million over Southwest (LUV), and $653 million over American. Note: There are numerous variables that would likely increase or decrease the actual dollar values noted in the labor cost advantage (see following chart – cost advantage assumes US Airways would have the same labor cost ratio of operating revenue as the airlines noted above - values are for mainline operations only).
On the revenue side for the recent 2nd quarter 2010, US Airways had:
· 18% year-over-year increase in passenger yield. United was the only major airline with a higher yield increase (yield is passenger revenue/passenger miles).
· 18.4% year-over-year increase in unit revenue. United and Southwest were the only two major carriers with higher RASM increases (RASM is operating revenue/ASM capacity).
· 19.3% year-over-year increase in total operating revenue. United and Southwest were the only two major airlines with a higher revenue increase.
· 26.2% year-over-year increase in ATL (advance ticket sales). JetBlue was the only major airline with a higher increase in ATL.
· For the recent 2nd quarter, US Airways had at or near the industries best operating income margin, net income margin, and EBITDAR margin.
Conclusion- Based on US Airways more recent strong performance both operationally and financially, there should be no doubt US Airways is ready to compete.
_____________________________________________________________
http://247wallst.com/2010/09/13/profits-flying-high-on-us-airways-turnaround/
 
Gotta love Drunky Doogie....

Everything that falls out of his hole is such BS......

First, we have to consolidate.....
Then......Nawww, we're Ok as a single carrier
Today......My employees take it in the shorts because my labor costs are soooo lean!!

This guy makes Bagdad Bob look credible.....

Congrats to all USAir (East and West)....this monkey looks good because of your hard work!
 
hang on a sec ...

Bill, I know that you are not going to take it lightly, but I want your old avatar back! It cracked me up every time!
 
Thanks Dornier

Mod states someone "complained" about my avatar stating it was "Raunchy"......Total crap.....offensive only to the mod IMHO, you should have seen the PMs when I called him on it.

Other mods had seen it and said nothing......It's their rules but stand by for a revival!
 
I know Gup!!!! Crazy......still got the cup though!!!

Lemme correct you.....Mod (singular).
 
"There are no American forces in Baghdad"

US tanks rolling in the background. Classic.
 

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