SAVE - Airline bookings look strong in August despite industry pressures

Airline bookings have stayed strong in August despite macroeconomic pressures that have lead to overall higher fares and labor disruption that has lowered capacity for some carriers.

System net sales improved for the week ending August 7 to  -9.2% vs. 2019 from the prior's week pace of -12.3% vs. the 2019 level, per tracking data from Bank of America. The firm said the step up for the week was primarily driven by better volumes, with system volumes down -12.6% vs. 2019 vs. -15.1% the prior week. Pricing was up modestly during the week.

Bookings through large corporate channels and smaller corporate channels have also both improved compared to the pre-pandemic level in 2019.

The recovery in international travel continued with international sales nearly fully recovered at down only -3.8% vs. 2019. For the week ending August 7, international volume improved to down -11.3% vs. 2019 vs. -13.3% for the prior week, while pricing stepped up to +8.4% vs. 2019 vs. +6.8% the prior week.

U.S. carriers: American Airlines ( NASDAQ: AAL ), Delta Air Lines ( DAL ), Southwest Airlines ( LUV ), United Airlines ( UAL ), JetBlue ( JBLU ), Hawaiian Holdings ( HA ), Alaska Air Group ( ALK ), Allegiant Travel ( ALGT ), Spirit Airlines ( SAVE ), Mesa Airlines ( MESA ), SkyWest ( SKYW ), Sun Country Airlines ( SNCY ), Frontier Group ( ULCC ).

European carriers: British Airways ( OTCPK:ICAGY ), easyJet ( OTCQX:EJTTF ), Ryanair ( RYAAY ), Deutsche Lufthansa ( OTCQX:DLAKF ), Air France-KLM ( OTCPK:AFRAF ), SAS Group, Jet2 ( OTCPK:DRTGF ), Virgin Atlantic, Wizz Air ( OTCPK:WZZAF ), Aeroflot ( OTC:AERZY ), Finnair ( OTCPK:FNNNF ), Norwegian Air ( OTCPK:NWARF ), Air Berlin ( OTC:AIBEF ).

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