Airlines Appear Headed for Recovery (Fuller Planes, Decline in Fuel Prices Begin to Pay Off)

Wall Street Journal ^ | December 2009 | SUSAN CAREY And MIKE ESTERL

[SeekAndFind]

After a difficult year battling the recession, the airline industry appears to be headed toward a recovery as fuller planes, fewer discounted fares, lower fuel prices and revenue from a variety of formerly free services start to pay off.

The signs of improvement are most advanced at low-fare carriers that focus on domestic flights. Passenger miles and unit revenue

[USNBandit]

Don’t worry, Cap and Trade will take care of that.

[SeekAndFind]

Cap and Trade will probably be headed on its way to defeat, Any legislator who signs into it will not only get an earful from airline executives, but other industries as well.

No one in their right mind is going to risk their re-election chances by voting for a bill that is even more unpopular than the healthcare bill.

[what's up]

People are trashing the airlines for their lousy service (and, I agree, flying is a pretty lousy experience these days).

But the reason is not because airlines are "greedy" or "inept". It is the clamp-down on energy, draconian regulations which will get worse if Zero continues to not be aggressive toward Islamofascism, and the pathological anti-business climate out there because of socialism in the WH.

Amazing how deluded people are about how things really work.

[LibLieSlayer]

Comment removed by LLS so moderator will not have to do it for me.

LLS

[Fractal Trader]

I’m sure all those extra revenues from luggage fees have helped out a lot.

[SeekAndFind]

I have been flying at least once a month the past year. In my experience HALF OF THE TIME, the flights are delayed by at least an hour. It isn’t related to extra identity checking either.

What has your experience been?

[Lou L]

As a “sometimes airline user,” I wish them well, and hope they can recover, government intrusiveness notwithstanding. But the airlines need more than baggage fees, they need passengers. And in the current economy, I don’t see people traveling as much. I am postponing airline travel for two trips I normally make every spring, until I see how my job shakes out.

[LibLieSlayer]

I understand. I wish them well also. What they need to do is raise their quality and cover the additional costs of doing so with higher rates. Profit and efficiency go hand in hand... but without profits it all goes belly up... unless it is a gooberment enterprise... then 20 generations of Americans will subsidized the socialist boondoggle... no profits need comrade (not pointed at you... but at obammy and his merry band of commies).

LLS

[sionnsar]

In my experience HALF OF THE TIME, the flights are delayed by at least an hour.

I've been flying rather more than that this year, though for many years the frequency is roughly yours. This is not my experience -- maybe 10%. But it can vary depending upon airport and airline -- some are better than others. If you're going through JFK, for example, this is pretty common.

[sionnsar]

What they need to do is raise their quality and cover the additional costs of doing so with higher rates.

Good luck with that when most of the flying public looks no further than rates. (And that includes us corporate flyers who have little choice.)

[LibLieSlayer]

I am one that thinks that the public at large flies far too much... they tried to make it so cheap that anyone could fly anywhere for any reason... that business model does not work... it brought us to where we are now. People used to dress up to fly... it was a “special” event. Now some barely dress at all.

LLS

[sionnsar]

If you think it’s bad here, you should visit the UK.

[LibLieSlayer]

We have family and friends there... and they say it is scary.

LLS