Air Canada stock price could reach CAD13; AirTran’s increased baggage fee to boost earnings
- North and South American airline shares fell for a fourth consecutive day due to concerns about the slowing US economy.
- Air Canada's stock price could potentially reach CAD13 if the carrier continues to stabilize.
- AirTran plans to increase its checked-luggage fee, which is expected to boost its earnings.
- US carriers are expected to raise fees and fares in the autumn as demand recovers from the 2009 recession.
- The US Air Transport Association reported a decline in departures for July 2010, but an increase in traffic and load factor.
- Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, and United Airlines experienced significant declines in their share prices.
The AMEX Airline Index was down 2.0% for the day, despite oil prices (-2.1%) continuing their recent descent, ending trading at USD71.63.
Air Canada stock price could reach CAD13
Air Canada's (-0.9%) decline for the day was minimised by comments from Citigroup Global Markets analyst, Will Randow, that the carrier's stock could "soar" in the next few years if it continues to show signs of stabilising. Mr Randow stated the stock could reach CAD13 in the future, up from the group's current price target of CAD4. Air Canada ended the session at CAD2.17.
AirTran's increased baggage fee to boost earnings
AirTran (-3.5%) also declined. CRT Capital Group stated during trading that the LCC's plans to increase its checked-luggage fee by USD5 from 01-Sep-2010 should help it improve its bottom line. Analyst, Michael Derchin, stated that if half of AirTran's roughly 25 million passengers p/a check baggage, the additional USD5 per passenger would add approximately USD62.5 million to its ancillary revenues. Mr Derchin stated this would add USD0.23 per share to AirTran's earnings for 2011, assuming a 35% tax rate.
See related CAPA profile: Ancillary Revenues
US carriers to raise fares for autumn
Farecompare.com CEO Rick Seaney stated during trading that US carriers are expected to raise their fees and fares this autumn as demand recovers from the 2009 recession. Mr Seaney stated fares for domestic services are 16-20% higher than they were in 2009.
See related CAPA profile: Fares and Discounting
ATA reports decline in traffic for Jul-2009
Airline stocks were also down after the US Air Transport Association (ATA) reported a 1.9% decline in departures for Jul-2010, to 404,322. Enplanements for the month were flat at 50,079.
The airlines experienced a 2.2% rise in traffic (RPMs) for the month, as they increased capacity by 1.7%. More positively, load factor was up 0.5 ppts to 87.6%.
Elsewhere, Delta Air Lines (-4.9%) was the biggest fall of the day, followed by Hawaiian Airlines (-4.0%) and United Airlines (-3.6%). Expressjet was the only carrier not to decline for the day, remaining flat.
North & South America selected airlines daily share price movements (% change): 24-Aug-2010
Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & Yahoo! Finance