The
US airline industry is still in lousy shape, with
some airlines in much better shape than others, but
about a third of the US industry now bankrupt. The
post-Katrina spike in fuel prices hit the industry
hard, particularly the already fragile carriers who
don't have fuel price hedges. Prices retreated from
the spike, giving them a small amount of breathing
room, but conditions continue to be very tough.
Planes are fairly full, schedules about back to the
level of 2001. Low fare carriers Southwest, Jet Blue,
Frontier, and Airtran have been profitable in recent
quarters, with Alaska, American, and Continental also
making profit in the April-June 2005 second quarter.
But after 19 consecutive profitable quarters, Jet
Blue lost money in the last quarter of 2006 and says
they won't be profitable again any time soon.
National, Midway and Vanguard Airlines are out of
business, United, ATA, and now Northwest, Delta, and
Aloha are flying in bankruptcy. Independence Air threw
in the towel and stopped operating as of Jan 5. |
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