airways

JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ:JBLU) reported today that May traffic increased 10.6% to 2.54 billion revenue passenger miles, up 2.30 billion RPMs in May of 2010. The airline's total capacity increased 8.9% in the month, resu

AAI is unchanged at $7.32 at last check.

The deal would give Southwest a foothold in Atlanta and routes to Mexico and the Caribbean in line with the company's efforts to expand its coverage area.

Southwest has to receive approval from federal antitrust regulators before it can close the deal.

Southwest Airlines (LUV) is up 0.65% to $12.40 in midday trade, after AirTran Airways (AAI) shareholders approved selling the discount airline to Southwest for $1.4 billion.

Mr. Kirby said, "We think there's significant value to be generated through another round of consolidation with US Airways. it's probably five to seven years from now that it will happen."

A merger would most likely pair US Airways with one of the other three big American legacy carriers: American Airlines (NYSE:AMR), Delta (NYSE:DAL) or United (NYSE:UAL).

US Airways (NYSE:LCC) President Scott Kirby, speaking at the J.P. Morgan transportation conference, said the legacy carrier was still looking to consolidate.

The stock was cut to "market perform" from "outperform" on the prospect that high fuel prices will cut into JetBlue's 2011 earnings, dropping EPS below Raymond James' 40-cent estimate.

JetBlue opened down 8 cents at $5.51 and fell to a low of $5.45 before broad market sentiment pared losses, lifted by an upbeat private-sector jobs report. The stock has declined about 19% over the past three months in step with o

JetBlue Airways Corp. (JBLU) is down fractionally Wednesday, after it was downgraded this morning by Raymond James.

US Airways (LCC) is up after it reports December mainline revenue passenger miles (RPMs) were 4.7 billion, up 5.7% from a year ago.
Mainline capacity was 5.9 billion available seat miles (ASMs), up 3.7% versus December 2009.