Frontier reports seventh consecutive monthly load factor record; Delta completes debt reduction

The gains in airline stocks were despite a 1.7% rise in oil prices for the session to USD82.82.

Frontier reports seventh consecutive monthly load factor record

Republic Airways (+6.8%) was the day’s biggest gainer after reporting a 51% year-on-year rise in passenger numbers in Sep-2010 to 2.7 million. The significant rise was due to its acquisition of Frontier Airlines and Midwest Airlines, which are now operating under the Frontier Airlines brand. Load factor for the group was up 5.0 ppts for the month to 79%, as traffic (RPMs) rose 86% on the back of a 73% increase in capacity.

Frontier generated a 7% rise in traffic on a 5% increase in capacity. As a result, the carrier reported a record load factor for the seventh consecutive month of 83%, up 2% year-on-year.

See related CAPA Profile: Traffic and Capacity

Delta completes debt reduction

Delta Air Lines (+2.8%) was also up after announcing it has successfully completed USD750 million in debt reduction and delivering initiatives as part of the company's ongoing efforts to bring its adjusted net debt to USD10 billion by the end of 2012, a reduction of USD7 billion over three years. Delta is taking advantage of the significant free cash flow it expects to generate in 2010 to delever its balance sheet through a variety of actions, including:

• successfully tendering for USD300 million of the company's debt;
• calling USD75 million of 9.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2014;
• repurchasing USD153 million in debt through open market transactions and private purchases;
• achieving USD160 million of debt relief through vendor negotiations; and
• reducing the company's lease expense by purchasing aircraft off lease.

The company's debt reduction initiatives will result in a one-time USD350 million charge in the Sep-2010 quarter. This charge is associated with the primarily non-cash loss on extinguishment of debt, including the write-off of unamortised debt discount recorded as part of the Northwest Airlines merger. At the time of its merger with Northwest, Delta was required under purchase accounting rules to record USD1.8 billion of debt discount.

Also during trading, Delta reported a 5.4% year-on-year rise in passenger numbers for Sep-2010, to 13.2 million. Load factor for the month was stable at 82.5%.

US Airways to end 3Q with USD2,370m in cash and investments

US Airways (+1.2%) stated it expects to end the Sep-2010 quarter with USD2,370 million in total cash and investments, including USD380 million in restricted cash. The carrier also expects to pay between USD2.15 and USD2.20 per gallon of mainline jet fuel (including taxes). US Airways provided the following guidance for its mainline operations:

• 3Q2010 forecast:
• Revenue:
  • + Cargo: USD35 million;
  • + Other revenue*: USD315 million;
• Capacity (ASMs): 17.4 billion;
• Cost per ASM excl fuel**: -1% to +1%;
• FY2010 forecast:
• Revenue:
  • + Cargo: USD140 million;
  • + Other revenue*: USD1,300 million;
• Capacity: 71.5 billion;
• Cost per ASM excl fuel**: -1% to +1%.

See related CAPA Profile: Outlook, Forecasts, Guidance

Jazz Air Income Fund planning to become corporate structure

Jazz Air Income Fund (-0.4%) was the only carrier to slip for the day. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has issued an interim order permitting the fund to hold a special meeting of its unitholders on 09-Nov-2010 to consider and approve an arrangement to convert the fund from an income trust to a corporate structure pursuant to a court approved plan of arrangement.

Elsewhere, Atlas Air (+4.3%) and JetBue (+3.8%) also made strong gains.

North & South America selected airlines daily share price movements (% change): 05-Oct-2010

Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & Yahoo! Finance