Largest Airlines Report Smaller Net Loss in 4th Quarter of 2012
The largest scheduled passenger airlines reported a net loss of $145 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, improved from a loss of $602 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today in a release of preliminary data (Table 1).
BTS, a part of the Department’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the 10 largest airlines, as ranked by total number of passengers in the fourth quarter, reported a net loss as a group in the last quarter after two quarters of profits (Table 1). These 10 airlines carried 76.1 percent of U.S. airlines’ scheduled service passengers in the fourth quarter of 2012. See revenue for all passenger airlines in the fourth-quarter of 2012 was $37.6 billion. All U.S. passenger airlines collected a total of $841 million in baggage fees and $610 million from reservation change fees from October through December 2012. Fees are included for calculations of Net Income, Operating Revenue and Operating Profit or Loss.
Total revenue for all passenger airlines for the full year 2012 was $159.5 billion. All U.S. passenger airlines collected a total in 2012 of $3.5 billion in baggage fees and $2.6 billion from reservation change fees.
Baggage fees and reservation change fees are the only ancillary fees paid by passengers that are reported to BTS as separate items. Other fees, such as revenue from seating assignments and on-board sales of food, beverages, pillows, blankets, and entertainment are combined in different categories and cannot be identified separately.
Total operating expenses for all passenger airlines in the fourth-quarter of 2012 were $37.0 billion, of which $10.9 billion, or 29.3 percent, was used for fuel costs.
Total operating expenses for all passenger airlines for the full year 2012 were $153.6 billion, of which $45.7 billion, or 29.7 percent, was used for fuel costs. See the database for expense and fuel data.
The press release includes these additional tables for the 10 top carriers: Table 3, Unit Costs; Table 4, Unit Revenues; Table 5, Passenger Revenue Yield.
Additional airline financial data can be found on the BTS website, including industry statistics for other individual low-cost and regional airlines. Operating profit/loss and operating revenue can be found on these tables. Fuel cost and consumption numbers are also available from these tables. See the BTS financial databases for more detailed data.
Data are compiled from quarterly financial and monthly traffic reports filed with BTS by commercial air carriers. Financial and traffic data include data received by BTS as of May 8. Revised carrier data and late data filings will be made available monthly on TranStats on the Monday following the second Tuesday of the month. All data are subject to revision. BTS will release first-quarter 2013 data on June 27.
Table 1. Large Airline System* Quarterly Net Income
Ranked by 4Q 2012 System Passengers
(Net income in millions of dollars)
| 4Q 2012 Passenger Rank | Airline | 4Q 2011 | 1Q 2012 | 2Q 2012 | 3Q 2012 | 4Q 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwest** | 150.9 | 108.6 | 228.3 | 16.1 | 78.3 |
| 2 | Delta | 475.5 | 151.0 | -120.4 | 1,169.9 | -20.4 |
| 3 | United*** | -254.6 | -431.1 | 369.6 | -25.1 | -574.3 |
| 4 | American | -1,097.1 | -1,676.2 | -263.7 | -256.9 | 270.8 |
| 5 | US Airways | 44.4 | 71.0 | 321.5 | 263.3 | 46.7 |
| 6 | ExpressJet**** | -10.0 | -4.8 | -1.8 | -0.4 | -3.5 |
| 7 | JetBlue | 23.5 | 29.7 | 52.5 | 44.3 | 0.8 |
| 8 | SkyWest | 4.2 | 6.4 | 18.2 | 22.8 | 19.0 |
| 9 | Alaska | 59.6 | 36.8 | 66.0 | 160.7 | 38.1 |
| N/A | AirTran** | 1.3 | -10.3 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 10-Carrier Total | -602.3 | -1,718.9 | 670.2 | 1,394.7 | -144.5 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Form 41; Schedule P1.2
* System = domestic + international
** Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways began reporting jointly in 2Q 2012.
*** United Airlines and Continental Airlines began reporting jointly in 1Q 2012. Previous quarter numbers are for United only. For Continental financials through 4Q 2011, see BTS Airline Financials Data press releases https://www.bts.gov/statistical-releases
**** ExpressJet Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines began reporting jointly in 1Q 2012. Previous quarter numbers are for ExpressJet only. For Atlantic Southeast financials through 4Q 2011, see BTS Airline Financials Data press releases https://www.bts.gov/statistical-releases
Table 1A. Large Airline System* Annual Net Income
Ranked by 4Q 2012 System Passengers
(Net income in millions of dollars)
| 4Q 2012 Passenger Rank | Airline | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwest** | 178.2 | 99.4 | 458.9 | 200.7 | 431.3 |
| 2 | Delta | 55.8 | -999.2 | 686.0 | 978.7 | 1,180.1 |
| 3 | United*** | -3,827.2 | -628.1 | 401.6 | 282.1 | -661.0 |
| 4 | American | -2,530.8 | -1,475.8 | -469.2 | -1,965.1 | -1,926.1 |
| 5 | US Airways | -2,148.4 | -140.5 | 598.6 | 180.4 | 702.5 |
| 6 | ExpressJet**** | 37.6 | 20.4 | 13.6 | -31.9 | -10.5 |
| 7 | JetBlue | -75.9 | 58.5 | 96.7 | 86.3 | 127.3 |
| 8 | SkyWest | 73.4 | 60.4 | 57.7 | 36.6 | 66.3 |
| 9 | Alaska | -96.4 | 109.7 | 250.5 | 256.4 | 301.6 |
| N/A | AirTran** | -273.8 | 134.7 | 38.5 | -24.7 | -10.3 |
| 10-Carrier Total | -8,607.5 | -2,760.5 | 2,132.9 | -0.5 | 201.2 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Form 41; Schedule P1.2
* System = domestic + international
** Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways began reporting jointly in 2Q 2012.
*** United Airlines and Continental Airlines began reporting jointly in 1Q 2012. Previous quarter numbers are for United only. For Continental financials through 4Q 2011, see BTS Airline Financials Data press releases https://www.bts.gov/statistical-releases
**** ExpressJet Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines began reporting jointly in 1Q 2012. Previous quarter numbers are for ExpressJet only. For Atlantic Southeast financials through 4Q 2011, see BTS Airline Financials Data press releases https://www.bts.gov/statistical-releases
Table 2. Large Airline System* Quarterly Operating Profit/Loss Margin (In Percent)
Ranked by 4Q 2012 System Passengers
(Operating Profit/Loss as Percent of Total Operating Revenue)
| 4Q 2012 Passenger Rank | Airline | 4Q 2011 (%) | 1Q 2012 (%) | 2Q 2012 (%) | 3Q 2012 (%) | 4Q 2012 (%) | 4th Quarter 2012 Operating Profit/Loss $(Millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwest** | 4.0 | 0.9 | 10.0 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 92 |
| 2 | Delta | 9.7 | 4.6 | 3.8 | 14.6 | 5.4 | 469 |
| 3 | United*** | -2.7 | -3.3 | 5.9 | 2.1 | -5.1 | -444 |
| 4 | American | -13.4 | -1.7 | 1.9 | 0.4 | -0.1 | -6 |
| 5 | US Airways | 3.3 | 1.7 | 10.3 | 7.3 | 3.3 | 110 |
| 6 | ExpressJet**** | -5.5 | -0.7 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 7 | JetBlue | 7.3 | 6.8 | 9.4 | 8.6 | 3.8 | 45 |
| 8 | SkyWest | 3.8 | 4.5 | 8.2 | 10.3 | 9.4 | 42 |
| 9 | Alaska | 6.9 | 4.3 | 15.8 | 18.7 | 7.8 | 89 |
| N/A | AirTran** | 1.5 | -1.0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 10-Carrier Total | 1.4 | 0.7 | 6.0 | 6.4 | 1.2 | 397 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Form 41; Schedule P1.2
* System = domestic + international
** Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways began reporting jointly in 2Q 2012.
*** United Airlines and Continental Airlines began reporting jointly in 1Q 2012. Previous quarter numbers are for United only. For Continental financials through 4Q 2011, see BTS Airline Financials Data press releases https://www.bts.gov/statistical-releases
**** ExpressJet Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines began reporting jointly in 1Q 2012. Previous quarter numbers are for ExpressJet only. For Atlantic Southeast financials through 4Q 2011, see BTS Airline Financials Data press releases https://www.bts.gov/statistical-releases
Table 2A. Large Airline System* Annual Operating Profit/Loss Margin (In Percent)
Ranked by 4Q 2012 System Passengers
(Operating Profit/Loss as Percent of Total Operating Revenue)
| 4Q 2012 Passenger Rank | Airline | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2012 Operating Profit/Loss $(Millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwest** | 4.1 | 2.5 | 8.2 | 4.8 | 3.8 | 629.9 |
| 2 | Delta | 0.3 | -3.4 | 8.2 | 6.4 | 7.3 | 2,684.0 |
| 3 | United*** | -8.6 | 1.5 | 6.4 | 4.2 | 0.2 | 59.0 |
| 4 | American | -8.7 | -5.8 | 0.7 | -4.9 | 0.2 | 41.2 |
| 5 | US Airways | -14.2 | 1.1 | 6.4 | 3.3 | 5.8 | 822.0 |
| 6 | ExpressJet**** | 7.4 | 7.4 | 6.7 | -3.9 | 0.3 | 5.1 |
| 7 | JetBlue | 2.5 | 8.1 | 9.1 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 359.7 |
| 8 | SkyWest | 6.8 | 8.1 | 7.6 | 5.4 | 8.0 | 155.3 |
| 9 | Alaska | -0.8 | 6.9 | 13.3 | 10.9 | 12.1 | 561.4 |
| N/A | AirTran** | -2.8 | 7.6 | 4.9 | -0.6 | -1.0 | -6.7 |
| 10-Carrier Total | -4.8 | -0.3 | 6.3 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 5,310.9 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Form 41; Schedule P1.2
* System = domestic + international
** Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways began reporting jointly in 2Q 2012.
*** United Airlines and Continental Airlines began reporting jointly in 1Q 2012. Previous quarter numbers are for United only. For Continental financials through 4Q 2011, see BTS Airline Financials Data press releases https://www.bts.gov/statistical-releases
**** ExpressJet Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines began reporting jointly in 1Q 2012. Previous quarter numbers are for ExpressJet only. For Atlantic Southeast financials through 4Q 2011, see BTS Airline Financials Data press releases https://www.bts.gov/statistical-releases
Table 3. Large Airline System* Unit Costs
Ranked by 4Q 2012 System Passengers
(Operating Expenses per Available Seat Mile in cents)
| 4Q 2012 Passenger Rank | Airline | 4Q 2011 | 1Q 2012 | 2Q 2012 | 3Q 2012 | 4Q 2012 | 4th Quarter 2012 Operating Expenses $(Millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwest** | 12.8 | 13.1 | 12.5 | 15.4 | 13.1 | 4,081 |
| 2 | Delta | 16.0 | 17.1 | 18.1 | 15.6 | 17.3 | 8,182 |
| 3 | United*** | 18.4 | 16.9 | 16.6 | 17.0 | 18.2 | 9,147 |
| 4 | American | 18.1 | 16.2 | 16.5 | 16.4 | 15.8 | 5,931 |
| 5 | US Airways | 17.9 | 18.5 | 17.8 | 17.1 | 18.5 | 3,237 |
| 6 | ExpressJet**** | 8.2 | 8.8 | 8.4 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 358 |
| 7 | JetBlue | 11.3 | 11.8 | 11.6 | 11.2 | 11.6 | 1,149 |
| 8 | SkyWest | 11.2 | 11.4 | 10.9 | 9.4 | 9.5 | 408 |
| 9 | Alaska | 14.9 | 15.1 | 14.3 | 13.9 | 14.8 | 1,042 |
| N/A | AirTran** | 11.9 | 12.1 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 10-Carrier Total | 15.8 | 16.0 | 15.9 | 15.2 | 16.0 | 33,535 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Form 41; Schedule P1.2. T100; T2 Data
* System = domestic + international
** Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways began reporting jointly in 2Q 2012.
*** United Airlines and Continental Airlines began reporting jointly in 1Q 2012. Previous quarter numbers are for United only. For Continental financials through 4Q 2011, see BTS Airline Financials Data press releases https://www.bts.gov/statistical-releases
**** ExpressJet Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines began reporting jointly in 1Q 2012. Previous quarter numbers are for ExpressJet only. For Atlantic Southeast financials through 4Q 2011, see BTS Airline Financials Data press releases https://www.bts.gov/statistical-releases
Table 4. Large Airline System* Unit Revenue
Ranked by 4Q 2012 System Passengers
(Operating Revenue per Available Seat Mile in cents)
| 4Q 2012 Passenger Rank | Airline | 4Q 2011 | 1Q 2012 | 2Q 2012 | 3Q 2012 | 4Q 2012 | 4th Quarter 2012 Operating Revenue $(Millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwest** | 13.4 | 13.3 | 13.9 | 15.6 | 13.4 | 4,173 |
| 2 | Delta | 17.7 | 18.0 | 18.9 | 18.2 | 18.2 | 8,651 |
| 3 | United*** | 17.9 | 16.4 | 17.6 | 17.4 | 17.3 | 8,703 |
| 4 | American | 16.0 | 15.9 | 16.8 | 16.5 | 15.8 | 5,925 |
| 5 | US Airways | 18.5 | 18.8 | 19.8 | 18.4 | 19.1 | 3,347 |
| 6 | ExpressJet**** | 7.8 | 8.7 | 8.4 | 7.5 | 7.2 | 358 |
| 7 | JetBlue | 12.2 | 12.6 | 12.8 | 12.2 | 12.1 | 1,194 |
| 8 | SkyWest | 11.7 | 11.9 | 11.8 | 10.5 | 10.5 | 450 |
| 9 | Alaska | 16.0 | 15.8 | 17.0 | 17.1 | 16.0 | 1,131 |
| N/A | AirTran** | 12.0 | 12.0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 10-Carrier Total | 16.0 | 16.1 | 16.9 | 16.3 | 16.1 | 33,932 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Form 41; Schedule P1.2. T100; T2 Data
* System = domestic + international
** Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways began reporting jointly in 2Q 2012.
*** United Airlines and Continental Airlines began reporting jointly in 1Q 2012. Previous quarter numbers are for United only. For Continental financials through 4Q 2011, see BTS Airline Financials Data press releases https://www.bts.gov/statistical-releases
**** ExpressJet Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines began reporting jointly in 1Q 2012. Previous quarter numbers are for ExpressJet only. For Atlantic Southeast financials through 4Q 2011, see BTS Airline Financials Data press releases https://www.bts.gov/statistical-releases
Table 5. Large Airline System* Passenger Revenue Yield
Ranked by 4Q 2012 System Passengers
(Passenger Revenue Per Revenue Passenger Mile)
| 4Q 2012 Passenger Rank | Airline | 4Q 2011 | 1Q 2012 | 2Q 2012 | 3Q 2012 | 4Q 2012 | 4th Quarter 2012 Passenger Revenue $(Millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwest** | 15.2 | 15.5 | 15.4 | 17.2 | 15.3 | 3,792 |
| 2 | Delta | 14.3 | 14.7 | 14.7 | 14.5 | 14.6 | 5,814 |
| 3 | United*** | 14.2 | 14.5 | 14.7 | 14.4 | 14.4 | 5,963 |
| 4 | American | 14.5 | 15.2 | 14.8 | 14.7 | 14.5 | 4,440 |
| 5 | US Airways | 14.0 | 14.6 | 14.7 | 13.6 | 13.9 | 2,064 |
| 6 | ExpressJet**** | 9.8 | 11.4 | 10.3 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 357 |
| 7 | JetBlue | 13.5 | 13.9 | 13.8 | 13.2 | 13.5 | 1,093 |
| 8 | SkyWest | 14.3 | 14.9 | 13.9 | 12.2 | 12.4 | 439 |
| 9 | Alaska | 13.1 | 12.9 | 13.9 | 14.0 | 13.2 | 799 |
| N/A | AirTran** | 13.6 | 14.3 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 10-Carrier Total | 14.3 | 14.7 | 14.7 | 14.2 | 14.3 | 24,761 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Form 41; Schedule P1.2. T100; T2 Data
* System = domestic + international
** Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways began reporting jointly in 2Q 2012.
*** United Airlines and Continental Airlines began reporting jointly in 1Q 2012. Previous quarter numbers are for United only. For Continental financials through 4Q 2011, see BTS Airline Financials Data press releases https://www.bts.gov/statistical-releases
**** ExpressJet Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines began reporting jointly in 1Q 2012. Previous quarter numbers are for ExpressJet only. For Atlantic Southeast financials through 4Q 2011, see BTS Airline Financials Data press releases https://www.bts.gov/statistical-releases