Recent trends affecting industry consolidation

[WorldTraveler]

Fly,
let me remind you since you want to start mud-slinging that DL reported a profit margin for the 2nd quarter that was more than 5 times larger than what UA reported. In fact, UA's operating profit margin was dead last among all US airlines of any size or reputation.

Whether the United name survives is not the issue. United as a corporation will never survive if they cannot at least produce industry average financial performance. DL beat not only UA but several other "perceived to be strong" airlines.

So, keep the rant up about how UA will control its destiny. Right now there is nothing to support that position.

 

[Fly]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

He's getting desperate (do not forget....he's a passenger, you'd almost think this is important to this loser)

fyi- atlboy(WT)......if Delta dies, someone will fill the spaces. Are you afraid of losing your miles?

United.......good enough for me until it's not good enough for me. How's that? (does it piss you off that I will not be on welfare if they fail? Sure will suck for my Delta Airlines Platinum miles deal though) I'll be fine though. How about YOU?

 

[WorldTraveler]

You've just proved why UA cannot succeed - employees who have no skin in the game. I'm glad your hubby can take care of you but if you don't care about your company, just hang it up.

UA wasted 3 years of bankruptcy only to report the worst financials in the industry and you have the nerve to bash anyone!

For years, UA saw themselves as invincible and yet they fell. 3 of the 4 airlines that have filed bankruptcy this decade managed to take the process seriously and turn themselves around dramatically. UA has just blown the best chance of turning around their airline the industry will likely be given since it is rare to see back to back years of strong profitability. I suggest you get a little afraid about failing and go fix what's STILL wrong!

And in case you still fail to grasp it, if UA can't turn things around post-haste, they will have no control over their future during the next downturn.

I always wanted to see a DL paint scheme on a 744 and I've always thought that DL should have never backed down from its previously strong position in Chicago and should rebuild it. I have a feeling I'll get to see both before too long.

 

[hp_fa]

Can't you do the rah-rah routine for Delta without dissing other airlines? You seem to have issues with AA, CO, UA, US and I'm suspct NW.

Besides DL who do you like, B6?

 

[Fly]

WT,

United MADE $$$$ last quarter. How did Delta do?

 

[flyhigh]

beauty,

Not only did UA build it's name in Asia as Mikey said, but many seem to forget that CO has flying in Asia for much longer. Is it a large operation...no, but a presence nonetheless. Additionally, where did that long time presence get UA when they tried to add JFK-HKG against CO's EWR-HKG? Kick back out. Granted, inferior aircraft (UA744 vs. CO777) and airport have something to do with it, but CO does pretty well for itself in Asia.

It will be interesting to see if today's failed terror plot hurts transatlantic travel. Could change the tide some.

We all know United wants to merge and US seems to like the idea right now too. AA is better off not merging and just winning route authorities as they come. Delta's biggest problem is really it's fleet. Take care of that and there may be no need for mergers. Maybe a simple break up of NW is all that really is necessary...

 

[WorldTraveler]

Are you completely devoid of any gray matter, Fly?

Yes, DL made money at a rate 5X larger than UA.

Real money… not the accounting charges that UA made at the end of its bankruptcy run and which DL will do as well. The only reason DL didn’t show NET profits was because of the same types of accounting charges that UA took as part of its bankruptcy restructuring.

I have no desire to “diss†anyone and I would be content to leave it as is…. But Fly now stands alone in failing to accept the fact that UA underperformed the industry by a significant margin …. As I predicted.

Today’s news very much highlights how volatile the airline industry is…. It is suicidal to not take advantage of every opportunity to make money now because there is absolutely no assurance you will get the chance tomorrow. And in the absence of sustainable profits when the inevitable downturn does occur, no airline’s future can be assured.

 

[RowUnderDCA]

FLy.. that's a mighty challenge that you've achieved:

made WorldTraveler appear rational by comparison.

 

[DLFlyer31]

Yes, DL made money at a rate 5X larger than UA.

DL had an operating margin of 7.9% while UA had an operating margin of 5.5%. How is that 5x larger than UA?