Three more airlines – United, Southwest and Alaska –
reported Thursday big profits for the fourth quarter, largely thanks to lower
fuel prices. Cheap fuel has allowed the airlines to reward shareholders with
stock buybacks and dividends, and to thank workers with profit
sharing. They're also buying planes to update their fleets.
Airlines are reporting record profits —at least since
Congress deregulated the industry in 1978. A glut of oil that's led
to low fuel prices is helping. Cheap fuel may continue to be a boon for
airlines, at least in the near-term. Southwest expects fuel costs to drop
another 30 cents per gallon during January, February and March.
Southwest said profits nearly tripled in the fourth quarter
to $536 million. In 2015, the airline returned $1.4 billion to
shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. Kelly said the company
expects to buy back an additional $500 million in stock in 2016. To reward
workers on the “exceptional” results, Southwest distributed $620 million in
profit sharing last year, up from the previous record of $355 million in 2014.
Alaska Airlines shared a similar story with investors.
Profits rose 29% in the fourth quarter, partly owing to lower fuel
costs. Total fuel cost of $213 million for October, November and December,
and $954 million for the year, was one-third lower than in 2014. The
carrier also increased passenger revenues by 6% in the quarter, to nearly $1.2
billion.
The company announced a 38% increase in its quarterly
dividend, to 27.5 cents per share and it awarded a company record $120
million in incentive pay to workers last year, or more than one month’s pay for
most employees. While Southwest and Alaska are enjoying the benefits of lower
fuel prices, United Continental is feeling some pressure.
Lower oil prices fueled a sharp decline in operating
expenses, which fell 8.4% to $8 billion for the quarter, compared to a year
earlier. But the airline, with a major hub in Houston, where many energy
industry executives are based, said high energy prices have led to a decline in
corporate travel. In response, Jim Compton, vice chairman and chief
revenue officer for United said the company would reduce capacity in
Houston and shift it to "other growing markets like Denver and
San Francisco."
United is battling other issues. During the quarter CEO Oscar
Munoz was sidelined by a health crisis. Munoz had a heart attack in
October and underwent a heart transplant in early January. Revenue
fell 3% in the quarter. In a surprise, Munoz appeared on a conference call
Thursday with investors and media, saying he is steadily increasing his
participation in company activities.
Munoz took office in September after a period of chronic
delays and computer issues for United, which was ranked as the ninth of 10 North American
airlines for on-time performance. Despite its challenges and lower revenue
performance, United was able to increase fourth quarter net income to $823
million from $28 million. United workers enjoyed $698 million in
profit-sharing for the year.
All three airlines are buying new planes, in some cases to
upgrade their fleets and in some cases to expand. United announced it would buy
40 new Boeing 737-700 aircraft to enter the fleet in mid-2017. The
goal is to reduce its reliance on 50-seat aircraft that are less profitable. Southwest
said its delivery schedule includes 33 737-800s and the conversion of 25
737-700s to 737-800s. The wifi-equipped planes will replace existing capacity
of the airline’s classic fleet by mid-2018, three years faster than previously
expected. Alaska added 11 737-900ERs and one Bombardier Q400 last
year.
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