North by Northwest
Veteran
This is beyond OUTRAGIOUS! Every Union on this property ought to be calling for the IMMEDIATE removal of this management and BOD. For the THIRD time these people have laid the ground work for the downfall of this company. What does it take for people to understand INCOMPETENT?
$750 MILLION dollar profit and we have 18% of fuel hedge. Good GOD, this is pathetic!
Government filings show that most major airlines have left themselves more exposed to high oil prices than they were a year ago.
United Airlines, a unit of UAL Corp (NasdaqGS:UAUA - News), had hedged 15 percent of its first-quarter fuel needs as of January 21. That compares with a 33 percent hedge for the year-ago quarter as of January 22, 2006.
Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL - News) has hedged 20 percent of its first quarter fuel needs as of December 31. On the same day the previous year, it was 30 percent hedged for the first quarter.
Delta Air Lines (NYSE😀AL - News) was 26 percent hedged for the first quarter as of January 22. For the same period a year ago, Delta had hedged 52 percent of its fuel needs as of February 12.
Northwest Airlines (NYSE:NWA - News) had hedged 18 percent of its estimated 2008 jet fuel needs as of February 29. It was 40 percent hedged for 2007 as of February 28, 2007.
Even, Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV - News), the industry's leading fuel hedger and also the most consistently profitable U.S. airline, faces eroding protection. As of mid-January, it was about 75 percent hedged for the first quarter, while in the same quarter last year it was nearly 100 percent hedged.
"If prices keep going higher, hedging becomes a harder decision because there's less room to go higher, perhaps," said Beth Harbin, a spokeswoman for Southwest.
While it's easy to point to missed opportunities in hindsight, airlines, like many others, did not expect the recent merciless run-up in oil prices.
"This latest price surge has U.S. airline executives baffled," Joe Schwieterman, transportation expert at DePaul University. "There's no feasible way to fend off the red ink. This is going to give a whole new reason to more aggressively hedge."
RARE EXCEPTION
One exception to lower jet fuel hedges is American Airlines. On January 16, the world's largest carrier said it had hedged 24 percent of its estimated fuel needs for 2008. As of December 31, 2006, the company had hedged was just 14 percent of its anticipated 2007 fuel needs.
American Airlines said it has been rebuilding its fuel hedging program over the past couple years as it recovered from steep losses and typically hedges about 30 percent of its fuel needs.
$750 MILLION dollar profit and we have 18% of fuel hedge. Good GOD, this is pathetic!
Government filings show that most major airlines have left themselves more exposed to high oil prices than they were a year ago.
United Airlines, a unit of UAL Corp (NasdaqGS:UAUA - News), had hedged 15 percent of its first-quarter fuel needs as of January 21. That compares with a 33 percent hedge for the year-ago quarter as of January 22, 2006.
Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL - News) has hedged 20 percent of its first quarter fuel needs as of December 31. On the same day the previous year, it was 30 percent hedged for the first quarter.
Delta Air Lines (NYSE😀AL - News) was 26 percent hedged for the first quarter as of January 22. For the same period a year ago, Delta had hedged 52 percent of its fuel needs as of February 12.
Northwest Airlines (NYSE:NWA - News) had hedged 18 percent of its estimated 2008 jet fuel needs as of February 29. It was 40 percent hedged for 2007 as of February 28, 2007.
Even, Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV - News), the industry's leading fuel hedger and also the most consistently profitable U.S. airline, faces eroding protection. As of mid-January, it was about 75 percent hedged for the first quarter, while in the same quarter last year it was nearly 100 percent hedged.
"If prices keep going higher, hedging becomes a harder decision because there's less room to go higher, perhaps," said Beth Harbin, a spokeswoman for Southwest.
While it's easy to point to missed opportunities in hindsight, airlines, like many others, did not expect the recent merciless run-up in oil prices.
"This latest price surge has U.S. airline executives baffled," Joe Schwieterman, transportation expert at DePaul University. "There's no feasible way to fend off the red ink. This is going to give a whole new reason to more aggressively hedge."
RARE EXCEPTION
One exception to lower jet fuel hedges is American Airlines. On January 16, the world's largest carrier said it had hedged 24 percent of its estimated fuel needs for 2008. As of December 31, 2006, the company had hedged was just 14 percent of its anticipated 2007 fuel needs.
American Airlines said it has been rebuilding its fuel hedging program over the past couple years as it recovered from steep losses and typically hedges about 30 percent of its fuel needs.