After Turbulent Year, Airlines See Smoother 2009

The nation’s airlines—which scrambled to retask fleets and ground fuel-guzzling aircraft last year as energy prices rose and passenger miles dropped—are likely to have a smoother flight in 2009, reports the Wall Street Journal. Reduced capacity has allowed them to better match supply and demand, and falling oil prices have helped shore up the bottom line.

American and United release earnings today, with others to follow soon. Only Southwest is likely to report a profit for the quarter. Southwest, which has made its reputation on its ability to hedge fuel costs, could be in for a slip after locking in 60% of its 2009 supplies at higher-than-market costs. Industrywide, passenger capacity is near 80%, although overall passenger miles have declined.
(More airline industry stories.)