Ok, I can't read, I thought it said "Julie", not Julius. Anyway. Title should be "Airbus captain has alter-ego" or something.
http://www.pbs.org/nbr/site/onair/transcripts/061005b/
One on One with Julius Maldutis, President of Aviation Dynamics
Thursday, October 05, 2006
PAUL KANGAS: The stocks of the major U.S. airlines have been gaining altitude in recent weeks as fuel prices drop. But will that upswing continue? Joining me now to answer that question, noted airline analyst Julius Maldutis, president of Aviation Dynamics. Julius, welcome back to NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT.
JULIUS MALDUTIS, PRESIDENT, AVIATION DYNAMICS: Thank you.
KANGAS: Oil prices are down over 20 percent since their July peak and many carriers have managed to extract deep cuts in labor costs through union concessions. Does this mean the airlines are finally getting into decent financial shape?
MALDUTIS: Absolutely. After five years of horrific losses the airlines this year are poised to report the first profitable year. But I think we`re going to see a big merchant movement in the industry which will result in consolidation and a reduction in flights.
KANGAS: All right, now if you were to own, let's say, two or three major carrier stocks, what would you start with? What would you own?
MALDUTIS: I would own American, Continental and United Airlines.
KANGAS: Tell me about American. We'll put a chart up here and look at that stock. There it is. It's had a run-up and now is back down a little bit.
MALDUTIS: American Airlines I think is a very important key player. Don't lose sight of the fact that American a number of years ago made a bid to acquire Northwest Airlines at $57 a share. They always wanted to be a big player in the Pacific so American Airlines is one winner.
KANGAS: OK.
MALDUTIS: The second winner is Continental Airlines. Continental Airlines has been the object of United Airlines taking a hard look at it. Continental at one time proposed a merger with Delta Airlines and also Continental has a special relationship with Northwest.
KANGAS: And it has had a good run-up in the stock too. We're looking at the chart.
MALDUTIS: Absolutely. So Continental could be a player. And then the final one is United Airlines. Mr. Tillton has said that after coming out of bankruptcy, that United should acquire someone and
I believe that the new U.S. Air could very well be acquiring United Airlines.
KANGAS: OK. That one -- that chart looks like it's really had a rough time of it recently. But you expect it to rebound, apparently.
MALDUTIS: Absolutely because Mr. Tillton has publicly stated that he's interested in doing a consolidation merger.
KANGAS: Yeah. And the earnings for all three look pretty good to you?
MALDUTIS: I think they are all poised in reducing flights going forward. And I think we're going to have a four or a five-year profit cycle to the industry. There will be other beneficiaries, of course from such a consolidation. But those are the three key players.
KANGAS: Now from what I can gather about 80 percent of all, all the airlines have 80 percent capacity on most of their flights. Will a slowdown in the economy affect that?
MALDUTIS: Well, they are slowing down the number of flights. They are going to be pulling capacity and specifically as a result of a merger, there will be less flights available. So airplanes are going to be full, continue to be full.
KANGAS: All right, fair enough. Incidentally, do you own any of those three stocks you mentioned?
MALDUTIS: No, I do not. The only one that I own is a little carrier called Midwest Express.
KANGAS: OK. We just have a few seconds left. Any final thoughts now. I guess we have flown out of time here, unfortunately. But anyway, it's great to see you again and thanks for taking the time to come with us.
MALDUTIS: Thank you, Paul.
KANGAS: My guest Julius Maldutis of Aviation Dynamics.