US Airways Jumps 12 percent to Lead Airline Sector Higher

US Airways Group (LCC 8.50, +0.69, +8.84%) shares jumped almost 12% to $8.73 in early trading on Wednesday to lead a broad advance in the airline sector after J.P Morgan Chase & Co. upgraded the stock. The NYSE Arca Airline Index rose 4.7% to 37.39 points and has now gained 11% since the beginning of the year. All 13 components in the benchmark were in positive territory, with AMR Corp. (AMR 7.54, +0.40, +5.53%) gaining 9% and Continental Airlines (CAL 21.18, +1.26, +6.33%) up more than 7%.

Southwest Airlines Profit and Revenue in First Quarter Improved

Southwest Airlines reported revenues of this airline in the first quarter increased to well beyond some other U.S. airlines. Southwest Airlines profit improvement due to the increasing demand from consumers to conduct flights to some destinations.

Southwest posted a profit of $11 million, or a penny a share, compared with a year-earlier loss of $91 million, or 12 cents a share. Excluding fuel-hedging and other impacts, earnings were 3 cents, compared with a 3-cent loss a year earlier. Revenue increased 12% to $2.63 billion.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had forecast a 3-cent profit on $2.62 billion in revenue.

Revenue per available seat mile, considered the best measure of revenue for airlines, rose 9.1%.

Per-gallon fuel costs rose 33% to $2.34. Southwest said it expects second-quarter costs, based on its current fuel-hedging portfolio, to range from $2.40 to $2.45 a gallon.
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Airlines Stock Reported : Airline Stocks Traded Higher, Gains On September

Airline stocks traded higher Monday, gaining as major U.S. carriers released their September traffic statistics.

At last check, the NYSE Arca Airline Index (XAL) added 1.2% to 27.25 points as all but one of its 13 components moved into the green. In the last 52 weeks, the benchmark index has moved in a range of 30.95 to 12.62 points.
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Goldman Sachs upgrades Continental Airlines, Southwest Airlines Co Lowered Target

Goldman Sachs upgraded shares of Continental Airlines Inc. on Monday and raised price targets on several other airline stocks, but lowered its target for Southwest Airlines Co. Airline stocks were mixed Monday, held back by a rise in oil prices. Read more