The bulls are running, but US airline yields and revenues are lame
The US aviation industry's woes continue, but irrational exuberance appears to have overtaken Wall Street. Despite double digit reductions in fares, which has resulted in significant yield deterioration, demand for air travel continues to remain weak, as the US and global aviation industry suffers at the hands of the global recession and volatile fuel prices.
According to the Air Transport Association (ATA), 4% fewer passenger travelled on US airlines in Jul-2009, while the average price to fly one mile fell 18%, a "modest" improvement from the 21% decline and 6.5% passenger reduction in Jun-2009. But given the peak Summer travel period is here, the figures are clearly disappointing.
ATA President and CEO, James C May, stated, "while the modest improvement in demand from June to July would normally be cause for cautious optimism, the fact is that the number of air travelers continues to fall despite double-digit declines in fares. Clearly, with the difficult economic environment, demand for air travel remains weak".
See separate report: ATA reveals early signs of traffic improvements, but US airlines not out of the woods yet
Yields continue to deteriorate at alarming and unprecedented levels
During Jul-2009, US carrier passenger revenues continued the decline sharply, falling 21% year-on-year in Jul-2009, following a 26% reduction in Jun-2009, for nine consecutive months of contractions.
Domestic airline yields slumped 14.7% in Jul-2009 (following an 18.9% reduction in Jun-2009), while Pacific yields fell an eye-popping 27.5% (25.2% in Jun-2009). Atlantic and Latin yields were also down significantly, by 22.8% and 21.5%, respectively, following reductions of 25.2% and 21.8%, respectively, in Jun-2009.
ATA yield growth (% change year-on-year): Jan-2008 to Jul-2009
Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & ATA
Actual yield figures improve from May/Jun-2009 lows
However, it must be noted that last month's reductions were off growth in the corresponding period in 2008, with domestic Jul-2008 yields up 5.9% and Atlantic, Latin and Pacific yields gaining 7.5%, 12.9% and 10.8%, respectively. Yields were higher in 2008, partially due to fuel price related increases, which have reduced as fuel prices have decreased.
ATA actual yield figures may have bottomed out in May-2009 and Jun-2009, with slight improvements in the actual yield figures in the peak travel month of Jul-2009.
ATA yield: Jan-2008 to Jul-2009
Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & ATA
Yields weakness to continue
But looking forward, ATA carriers are likely headed for another month of deep year-on-year yield reductions in Aug-2009, following double digit yield growth last August for Atlantic, Latin and Pacific services (of 10.9%, 16.2% and 13.0%, respectively). Domestic yield in Aug-2008 was also quite strong rising 4.9%.
Outlook: Irrational exuberance? Airline bull run on stock market continues
Despite this toxic environment of reduced demand and woeful yield figures, the Amex Airline Index has soared almost 90% from the early Mar-2009 lows. Investors appear to be focusing on hopes the worst of the industry's steep revenue losses may have passed, and that the US airlines have better scope for raising more debt to keep them alive in the lean months ahead.
Amex Airline Index: 2009
Source: Amex Airline Index & Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation
But it could be a case of irrational exuberance. Any recovery will be slow and these yield falls, particularly on international markets, will take a very long time recover.