FedEx and UPS make gains; JetBlue sells out of jet pass; Allegiant plummeting
In response, the AMEX Airline Index dropped 1.8%. The fall in airline stocks was despite another decline in oil prices (-0.4%) to USD73.14.
Airlines outperform wider market again
Dahlman Rose & Co wrote in a note during trading that US airline stocks again outperformed the S&P 500 last week, despite falling 0.6%. For the year-to-date, airline stocks have gained 16.6%.
However, gains appear to be slowing slightly ahead of the end of the summer season. According to the analysts, domestic leisure traffic has been declining as a result, while international premium traffic remains strong.
FedEx and UPS make slight gains
FedEx (+0.3%) gained marginally after its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of USD0.12 per share on FedEx Corp common stock. The dividend is payable 01-Oct-2010 to stockholders of record at the close of business on 10-Sep-2010.
UPS (+0.2%) also made a slight gain for the day. The freight carrier last week reduced its estimate of the number of pilots it expects to furlough through 2011 from 300 to 230 as part of a USD1.4 billion cost-cutting initiative.
JetBlue sells out of All You Can Jet Pass
JetBlue (-2.1%) has been declining as of late despite announcing last week it sold out of its All You Can Jet Pass a day earlier than expected. Last year, the pass sold out two days early.
It was also reported last week that the carrier is negotiating a codeshare agreement with American Airlines (-1.7%) that could be put into effect as soon as 1Q2011. The carriers announced plans in Mar-2010 to cooperate in New York and recently announced a reciprocal frequent flyer agreement.
Allegiant plummeting
Elsewhere, Allegiant (-5.1%) stock plummeted. The travel company's stock has been gradually declining over the past few months from a price of USD51.77 at the end of May-2010, to USD38.83 now.
Allegiant stock price: 24-May-2010 to 23-Aug-2010
Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & Yahoo! Finance
COPA (-3.5%) and Alaska Air (-3.5%) were also down for the day, while Jazz Air Income Fund made another day of modest gains.
North & South America selected airlines daily share price movements (% change): 23-Aug-2010
Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & Yahoo! Finance