Hey Sparrow the article reported that US had the highest margin--11.7%--in the industry. It obviously bodes well for the company, and for US if it continues to perform as well as it is right now. If there will be a merger in the future with one of the Big 2 or AA these kinds of numbers will affirm US's added value to one of those potential suitors.
There are a lot of folks out there who say that US brings nothing to the table in a merger. But I beg to differ. I look at US's potential through the lens of the NBA: The Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers. UAL and CO made a big splash with their merger announcement as did the Heat with the signing of LeBron, Chris Bosh and the re-signing of Dwayne Wade. There is no doubt that on paper a potential powerhouse was created when those players signed with Miami. But the Lakers however, already being a championship team, quietly went about strengthening their bench thereby solidifying their chances of yet another repeat championship season. The players they added were not on the caliber of LeBron, Bosh or Wade, but they didn't have to be. They already have a championship core of players. But they did need the acquisitions of those unheralded players to make their bench stronger and more competitive as their competition got stronger.
UAL or DL, and to a lesser extent AMR--their recently approved ATI with BA has strengthened their hand--through their mergers have made their big acquisitions, but what US offers is an opportunity to potentially strengthen their benches. The numbers this past quarter are very encouraging as are the numbers going forward. If we can keep up this momentum it's win win for all of US merger or not.
