US airlines report improved operating margin in 2Q2009

US Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) stated (21-Sep-2009) the seven US network carriers reported a combined total system (domestic and international) operating loss margin of -0.5% for the three months ended 30-Jun-2009, the sixth consecutive quarterly loss margin. Details of total passenger airline financial results include:

• Operating revenue: USD29,355 million, n/a year-on-year;
  • Regional: USD1,915 million;
  • Low cost: USD4,760 million;
  • Network: USD22,680 million;
• Operating costs: USD28,994 million;
  • Regional: 1,777 million;
  • Low cost: USD4,426 million;
  • Network: USD22,791 million;
• Operating profit (loss): USD361 million;
  • Regional: USD138 million;
  • Low cost: USD334 million;
  • Network: (USD111 million);
• Operating margin: 1.2%, +5.7 ppts;
  • Regional: 7.2%, +4.7 ppts;
  • Low cost: 7.0%, +5.3 ppts;
  • Network: -0.5%, +6.8 ppt;
• Unit cost per ASM: USD 12.6 cents, -19.2%;
  • Regional: USD 12.4 cents, -31.1%;
  • Low cost: USD 9.3 cents, -11.4%;
  • Network: USD 13.5 cents, -19.6%;
• Unit revenue per ASM: USD 12.7 cents, -15.3%;
  • Regional: USD 13.4 cents, -27.2%;
  • Low cost: USD 10.0 cents, -5.7%;
  • Network: USD 13.4 cents, -15.2%.

According to BTS, the network carrier to report the best operating margin for the three months ended 30-Jun-2009 was Northwest Airlines, at +5.4%. Details of US network carriers' financial performance include:

• Operating margin: -0.5% +6.8 ppt year-on-year;
  • Northwest: 5.4%, -1.3 ppt;
  • US Airways: 4.4%, +20.5 ppts;
  • United: 4.3%, +8.5 ppts;
  • Alaska: 4.2%, +11.3 ppts;
  • Delta: -3.5%, -6.4 ppts;
  • Continental: -5.2%, -3.3 ppts;
  • American: -5.3%, +16.5 ppts;
• Unite cost per ASM: USD 12.6 cents, -19.2%;
  • Delta: USD 15.3 cents, -6.7%;
  • US Airways: USD 14.4 cents, -28.4%;
  • Continental: USD 13.4 cents, -14.6%;
  • American: USD 13.3 cents, -26.1%;
  • Northwest: USD 12.6 cents, -19.2%;
  • Alaska: USD 12.3 cents, -12.8%;
  • United: USD 12.2 cents, -22.8%;
• Unit revenue per ASM: USD 12.7 cents, -15.3%;
  • US Airways: USD 15.0 cents, -13.3%;
  • Delta: USD 14.8 cents, -12.4%;
  • Northwest: USD 13.3 cents, -20.4%;
  • Alaska: USD 12.8 cents, -3.0%;
  • United: USD 12.7 cents, -16.4%;
  • Continental: USD 12.7 cents, -17.5%;
  • American: USD 12.7 cents, -14.2%. [more]