ClueByFour:
You're kidding right? Then again...
😀
ClueByFour said: "Now, what USA320Pilot is trying to say is that LCC will make money (according to this analyst he's quoted) in the quarter. That's not what the guy actually said. "Excluding integration costs." Why do you think that is, USA320Pilot? Might it perhaps be that when the integration costs are included that there either won't be a profit or it won't be close to 10 cents/share?"
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USA320Pilot comments: By the way, Doug Parker just told airline analysts US Airways would be profitable for all of 2006 including merger related costs (at current energy prices).
I don't particularly care what Doug Parker said. Where is the 90 million hit going to come from next quarter?
ClueByFour said; "Look for much higher than anticipated "integration costs" and much lower than expected "synergy savings." I've run billion dollar integrations from an IT and process perspective--Parker's estimated "synergies" in those areas alone is laughably optimistic. As for when? I'm not willing to crawl out on the same limb as airline analysts looking for a nice pump and dump opportunity,
largely because nobody without serious hedges has a business plan that can support $70/bbl (or higher) oil."
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USA320Pilot comments: Management just said RASM increases are leading the industry, the company is increasing fuel hedges, and merger cost synergies (savings) are more than anticipated in the merger plan.
And the JP Morgan analyst just said that non-fuel costs are increasing more than anticipated.
[quote[Clue, would it not be better to admit you're wrong (again)?[/quote]I have no intention of going down that road, until such time as you admit for the "bong hits for a 777 seat" saga. And the ICT/UCT. And the letter to the observer in the first bankruptcy. And AA buying NW (Remember that gem)?
As it stands, I claimed that US would have higher than anticipated "other" costs, and that's right on. I'll even toss in the hedge--US, absent the gift from Airbus, loses 30 million or so in the quarter.
But tell us, O Swami, what is going to happen to those spectacular RASM growth when the contracting airline routine finally comes to an end?
Here's a hint: it's going to keep contracting. Look for that reserve seat in LGA in '07, all in the name of Parker's almighty RASM gains.
ClueByFour:
What do you think of the following quotes:
"There is a strong macro trend in RASM (revenue per available seat mile) and yield increases for the industry as domestic capacity is being cut back," said Calyon Securities analyst Ray Neidl in a research note.
Clue, how about these quotes?
I think that if one shrinks capacity that revenue per available seat mile should climb, much like I believe in gravity. If it does not, one might wonder.
I also think that I'll be laughing myself silly when you are pulling gear for a 10 year HP airbus captain on reserve out of LGA. Who do you think is going to suffer as a result of mainline metal reductions--you don't really think it's going to be the HP pilot group, do you?
The nasty little secret about all of this is it assumes that once the fleet stops shrinking that the revenue can be maintained at those levels. It also ignores the fact that no group has a merged contract, there is no common reservation system, and the majority of the RASM gains come from the express carriers.
Much as I've said before--I made money shorting the old US, and there is no doubt that the opportunity will present itself again.