A discussion about the airline industry, airline employees, and all things related

It looks like most airlines are posting some sort of first quarter profit, but the UAL Corp., (UAUA) the parent company of United Airlines seemed to cut the party short.  United posted a first quarter net loss of $152 million dollars. 

United wants to note that operating costs were down to a loss of $92 million compared to last year’s results of a loss of $171 million. 

United Airlines CEO Glenn Tilton said, “We continue to generate significant cash flow by tightly controlling costs and improving ticket revenue growth.” 

Right… a loss is a good thing.  When are UAL employees going to run him out of town? 

Meantime over at AirTran Airways (AAI), the company posted a $2.4 million dollar profit on record revenues, record passenger traffic and rising fares.  The airline raised their first quarter profit from a loss of nearly $9 million last year at this time. 

"We are very pleased to report a profitable first quarter -- especially given the fact that the first quarter has been historically challenging for us," said Joe Leonard, AirTran chairman and CEO. 

American, Continental, Southwest, and AirTran have all reported 1^st quarter profits. 

Chicago Tribune 

SouthFlorida Biz Journal