Airline operator US Airways Group, Inc. (LCC: Quote) reported Monday operational results for the airlines for the month of February. Consolidated traffic grew 7.8 percent, capacity rose 5.6 percent, and load factor increased 1.6 percentage points. The airlines' performance was positively impacted by mild February weather conditions and fewer flight cancellations.
The airline also said its preliminary on-time performance as reported to the U.S. Department of Transportation was a record of 89.3 percent in February, with an all-time record completion factor of 99.7 percent.
"Our February consolidated (mainline and Express) passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increased approximately 7 percent versus the same period last year," President Scott Kirby said in a statement.
Tempe, Arizona-based US Airways' consolidated February traffic, measured in revenue passenger miles, or RPMs, grew 7.8 percent to 4.49 billion from the same month last year. American region traffic increased 9.1 percent, Atlantic region traffic rose 3.7 percent, and Latin region traffic grew 2.0 percent.
Consolidated capacity, measured in terms of available seat miles, or ASMs, grew 5.6 percent to 5.77 billion from February 2011. American region capacity increased 6.1 percent, and Atlantic region capacity rose 7.6 percent, while Latin region capacity edged down 0.9 percent.
Consolidated passenger load factor for the month of February reached 77.9 percent, up 1.6 percentage points from 76.3 percent in the year-ago month. American region load factor grew 2.2 percentage points, and Latin region load factor rose 2.3 percentage points, while Atlantic region load factor decreased 2.2 percentage points.
Total enplanements in February increased 9.2 percent to 4.73 million from February last year. Enplanements for American region grew 10.2 percent, and Atlantic region advanced 1.4 percent, while Latin region edged down 0.8 percent from last year.
US Airways mainline February traffic advanced 7.9 percent to 4.33 billion RPMs from the year-ago, and mainline capacity grew 5.8 percent to 5.52 billion ASMs from February 2011.
Mainline load factor for the month of February rose 1.5 percentage points to 78.3 percent from the same month last year. Total mainline enplanements in February increased 9.6 percent to 4.15 million from February last year.
February traffic for US Airways Express, covering only American region and operated by Piedmont Airlines and PSA Airlines, increased 4.7 percent to 167.95 million RPMs from the year-ago month. Express capacity grew 2.8 percent to 247.55 million ASMs from February 2011.
Express load factor for the month of February grew 1.2 percentage points to 67.8 percent from the same month last year. Total express enplanements in February increased 6.5 percent to 586,838 from February last year.
For the year-to-date two-month period, US Airways' consolidated traffic grew 5.6 percent to 9.29 billion RPMs from the year-ago period, and consolidated capacity increased 4.3 percent to 11.91 billion ASMs from the prior-year period. Consolidated load factor for the period also rose 1.0 percentage point to 78.1 percent from the same period last year.
LCC closed Friday's regular trading session at $7.63, up $0.18 on a volume of 7.72 million shares.
 | | To receive FREE breaking news email alerts for US Airways Group and others in your portfolio |
|
by RTT Staff Writer
For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com
Business News