American Airlines posts huge 1Q loss on fuel costs

[marmar]

DALLAS —

American Airlines lost $436 million in the first quarter as it battled rising jet fuel prices, foreshadowing huge losses at other U.S. airlines.

American responded to the grim numbers Wednesday by announcing it will scale back plans to add new flights and retire at least 25 older, gas-guzzling planes later this year.

Prices for jet fuel have been rising sharply since September, and American spent $1.8 billion on fuel in the first quarter - an increase of $366 million or 25 percent from this time last year.

AMR said at current oil prices, it expects to spend $1.2 billion more on fuel this year than it did last year. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014821379_apusearnsamr.html?syndication=rss

[Confusious]

1. Time to bring back the zepplins

helium filled only.

[Fumesucker]

2. Helium is in short supply..

Indeed we are probably well past "peak helium" and helium has a great many uses that have nothing to do with zeppelins.

[Confusious]

4. I thought of that after I posted

and I also worked for company that made use of liquid helium.

[Confusious]

11. Too bad though, I would have liked to fly in a zeppelin. nt

[joeunderdog]

3. Try "Executive" costs...

SAN FRANCISCO INT’L AIRPORT (CBS SF) — Americans Airlines flight attendants and ground crew demonstrated outside San Francisco International Airport Wednesday, joining workers at other U.S. airports in a protest over the airline’s executive compensation.

Outside SFO’s Terminal 2, at least 50 American Airlines employees joined the demonstration, which was organized by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, APFA spokeswoman Julie Hedrick said.

Protest organizers claim that executives of AMR—American Airlines’ parent company—were awarded more than $100 million in bonuses and salary increases since 2003, while flight attendants have forfeited more than $340 million per year in salary and benefit concessions in order to save the airline from bankruptcy, Hedirck said.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/04/20/american-airlines-workers-protest-over-executive-pay-at-sfo/

[hfojvt]

5. I don't understand why high fuel prices

would make them lose IQ points. Are they sure it isn't the altitude doing that instead of the fuel prices?

[theophilus]

7. .

:rofl:

[Blue_Tires]

6. I wonder what they will replace the MD-80s with?

[Blue_Tires]

9. EDIT: The answer is more 737-800s

[theophilus]

8. President Obama promises to look into the high fuel prices and come

down on speculators and gougers if they are causing the problems (like a ton of bricks).

[formernaderite]

10. my granddaughter booked her spring break and summer flights

in January. We thought she was a little paranoid at the time... one smart cookie. She told me on her spring break flight to spain... she sat in economy with literally 7 other people. The price of that flight had doubled within two weeks of her booking.