US Airways Reports Record Load Factor in June, Expected to Return to Profit
Monday, July 12, 2010
This week US Airways Group, Inc. announced increases in traffic in its June, second quarter and year-to-date 2010 results. Mainline revenue passenger miles (RPMs) for June were 5.6 billion, up 2.9 percent as compared to June 2009. Mainline capacity was 6.4 billion available seat miles (ASMs), up 2.8 percent versus June 2009. Mainline passenger load factor was a record 86.9 percent for the month of June, up 0.1 points versus June 2009.
US Airways President Scott Kirby said, "Our June consolidated (mainline and Express) passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increased approximately 22 percent versus the same period last year, while total revenue per available seat mile increased approximately 23 percent on a year-over-year basis." US Airways shares have rallied, and the carrier is expected to return to profit this year.
By Jennifer Michels and Andrew Compart Aviation Week
Spirit Airlines, which has suspended flights since its pilots went on strike June 12, will resume service Friday June 18 now that it has reached a tentative agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association.
Its ALPA members must still ratify the contract in a vote that will not be held until sometime in July.
Spirit President and CEO Ben Baldanza said, “Our pilots worked hard to get a mutually favorable deal that allows the company to grow while improving their wages and benefits. We apologize to those of our customers whose travel was disrupted as a result of the strike and look forward to earning back their trust with ultra-low fares, great service, and the best pilots in the sky.
New York (CNN) -- Spirit Airlines reached a tentative agreement with its pilots on Wednesday that will end the five-day-old strike that halted the airline's operations, a union official said.
Pilots will return to work and Spirit's operations will resume on Friday, the airline said on its website.
"Our pilots worked hard to get a mutually favorable deal that allows the company to grow while improving their wages and benefits," said Ben Baldanza, president and CEO of Spirit.
The tentative agreement was reached around 1 p.m. Wednesday, according to Capt. Sean Creed, chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association at Spirit.
With its lack of interline agreements, reliance solely on direct bookings, and limits imposed by its internal reservations system, the ongoing pilot strike at Spirit Airlines is putting the carrier in a tough spot for reaccommodating customers.
The South Florida-based, low-cost carrier, which has canceled flights through at least June 16, is not saying much about what it is doing for those customers. Its plan to wet-lease aircraft and crews to provide services during the strike (DAILY, June 7) seems to have fallen through, with carriers apparently reluctant to be seen as helping to break a pilots' union.
Louis Smith, president of the aviation career specialist site www.FltOps.com, says he believes the wet-lease option has fallen through because the Internet makes it almost impossible for pilots who cross a picket line to keep their names from being spread worldwide as strike-breakers. That's evident in the banter on all of the "underground" message boards for pilots online, he says.
The US Airline Pilots Association, which represents pilots at US Airways Group Inc., has initiated contract talks with the carrier's management. Negotiations broke off 10 months ago because of the disparate pay and working conditions between US Airways pilots and those of America West Airlines. US Airways and America West merged in September 2005, with the combined carrier taking the US Airways name. However, the merged companies havn't yet resolved an impasse over its pilots' labor agreement. "We believe it's time for management to complete the job it started three years ago and conclude the merger of US Airways and America West," says Steve Bradford, USAPA president. "Although we are hopeful, we will wait and see what management does -- not what they say." In April, pilots at US Airways approved a measure to leave the Air Line Pilots Association and form a separate union. Of the 5,238 eligible voters, 2,723 pilots cast their ballots in favor of joining the US Airline Pilots Association, which is based in Charlotte. Arizona-based US Air operates its largest hub at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. The carrier operates 3,500 flights per day to about 230 destinations in the Americas and Europe.
Sector Snap: Airlines mostly up as oil drops
Monday, May 31, 2010
Airline stocks trade mostly higher amid broader market sell-off as oil dips below $75 a barrel NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of major U.S. airlines rose in trading Wednesday amid a sharply lower broader market, as the price of oil reached its lowest point in 13 months. Also Wednesday, American Airlines parent AMR Corp. and Delta Air Lines Inc. reported third-quarter earnings. AMR reported an operating loss that was roughly inline with Wall Street expectations, while Delta Air Lines missed analysts' forecasts. But investors were squarely focused on oil prices. Light, sweet crude for November delivery fell $2.95 to $75.68 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange after earlier sliding to $74.57, the lowest trading level since Sept. 5 of last year. Oil prices have now plummeted 48 percent since a July 11 record. In afternoon trading, Delta rose 34 cents, or 5 percent, to $7.69. AMR gained 14 cents, or 2 percent, to $8.93. Northwest Airlines Corp. added 24 cents, or 3 percent, to $9.11. United parent UAL Corp. rose 25 cents, or 4 percent, to $7.38. Among airline stocks losing steam was Southwest Airlines Co., which declined 24 cents, or 2 percent, to $12.08. The carrier is set to report earnings Thursday.
Obama praises US Airways pilot during phone call
Monday, May 31, 2010
The Associated Press Friday, January 16, 2009; 8:09 PM WASHINGTON -- President-elect Barack Obama is joining those heaping praise on the pilot of US Airways Flight 1549, the craft that landed in New York City's Hudson River yet didn't lose a single passenger. Obama called Capt. Chesley Sullenberger on Friday to tell him how proud everyone is for a heroic and graceful job in landing the damaged aircraft. Obama's spokesman, Robert Gibbs, says that the president-elect spoke with Sullenberger for about five minutes. Obama also thanked the plane's crew and those on the scene in New York who helped ensure the safety of all 155 people aboard. President George W. Bush also has called Sullenberger with congratulations. The plane crashed Thursday after colliding with a flock of birds.
Nation's pilots warn of weapons accidentally triggered in cockpits
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Federal program protects against terrorist attacks WEWS NewsNet5.com Posted: 05/17/2010 By: Ron Regan
CLEVELAND - A 5 On Your Side investigation has found handguns used by pilots to fight terrorism can accidentally go off inside cockpits -- two full years after a government report first warned of the danger.
The Federal Flight Deck Officer Program was launched in the wake of the 911 attacks and provides pilots who volunteer with extensive training -- at the pilot's expense.
New rule makes union organizing easier at airline, railroad companies
By SAM HANANEL The Associated Press WASHINGTON
In a major victory for organized labor, unions will have an easier time signing up airline and railroad workers after the Obama administration Monday changed a 76-year-old rule on union elections.
The change is the most significant so far in a string of White House moves designed to boost unions, which are struggling to reverse years of decline in membership.
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