7 in the first four months of the year 75

After losing $ 40 billion since 2000 due to the bursting of the bubble of the late 1990s and the attacks of September 11, 2001, companies American air resumed their colors. Their results for the second quarter of this year were in fact reserved good surprises. Thus, as many of those who were still in deficit losses are on the way to a return to profit on the whole of the year, the whole of the benefits of economic growth, an increase in the price of the tickets and its significant restructuring efforts. It should be able to limit its deficit this year to $ 2 billion and be profitable in 2007, according to the Association of air transport (ATA) American. Two elements however threaten this rosy Outlook: slower more pronounced in the economy, while the second half is traditionally less than the first, and especially the continuation of the increase in the price of kerosene, that companies have until now failed to cash without too much damage.

Increase the rate of filling

United Airlines, number two in the sector, thus confirmed yesterday a return to profits of 119 million in the second quarter after a loss of 1.4 billion last year, linked to the cost of a drastic restructuring, which saw the group put an end to its supplementary pension plan. United, released in February of a period of trente-huit months under the provisions of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Act, is probably the best surprise of the quarter in the sector, analysts waiting two times less profit. That said, most traditional companies have registered good results. The leader American Airlines has thus quintupled its quarterly profit, 291 million, and again becomes profitable this year according to Lehman Brothers. Continental has doubled with his own to nearly 200 million. US Airways has released second best quarterly profits in the sector with a profit of 305 million. Remains to know numbers of Delta, in bankruptcy: the main partner of Air France-KLM publish them on August 9.

Low-cost companies are therefore most only take their PIN of the game, as was the case during the years of crisis. While traditional carriers have adapted their pricing and passengers benefit from the improvement of their purchasing power, "borders are increasingly blurred and the two types of companies must all fight against rising fuel costs and increased competition," says John Heimlich, an economist at the ATA. Main actor in the "low cost", however, Southwest has more than doubled its net profit to 333 million and, according to Gary Chase, Lehman Brothers analyst, his ambition to increase its profits by 15 this year is "easily feasible". The results of its competitor JetBlue are more contrasting.

The improvement of the accounts of the companies is largely a filling ratio of the aircraft to 77.7 in the first four months of the year (75.2 last year). The beginning of the summer was still better: 85.2 of filling for example American in June. The companies were able to adjust their capabilities, which allowed them to increase their prices. This offset a drastic increase in oil bills: more than 30 American and even more than 70 for JetBlue.

However, the consolidation of the American air transport appears not completed. After the merger of US Airways and America West last winter, the number of actors could still be reduced. The direction of US Airways and made contact with Delta by saying that it stood ready, revealed the "Wall Street Journal". But Delta refused his rival approaches.