Even with the recent bubble that crude has had, fuel is still up compared to its lows a couple months ago.
http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/future/CLH5
further, when a company doesn't hedge, they have to buy based on the market price in effect at the time.
even though oil has come down slightly from its highs, it was higher long enough that AA had to buy some fuel during that time and costs have to reflect the price on those days.
no one knows for certain where oil is going including AA so they are going to be very careful about adding costs given the possibility that prices could go up and have been trying to do just that.
further, you and others continue to consider only fuel prices when figuring how much extra profit AA should have. AA still faces greater revenue weakness than any of the other big 4 in large part because of Latin America and AA also has $650 million in currency tied up in Venezuela that likely will have to be impaired, far more than any other carrier.
the mere fact that AA is not projecting a profit margin significantly higher than any of its peers says the fuel price impact is not the only factor affecting profitability in the industry.
and as much as you might not want to hear it, I believe you will see that Parker got the pilots and FAs taken care of and will be far, far slower in settling with other labor groups.
I hope for your sake that I am wrong but I think Parker has been very intentional in the order he has chosen to deal with each labor group and he isn't afraid to drag out settlements with the ground employees
I do wish you and the ground employees at AA/US well.
