U.S. Airlines Report Modest Uptick in Summer Bookings But Will Passengers Actually Show Up?
Skift Take
How do you define recovery? If you call it improvement from the nadir, U.S. airlines are in recovery mode. But if recovery means nearing 2019 levels of travel demand, U.S. airlines are a long way away.
Major U.S. airlines are selling more tickets and taking fewer cancellations than a month ago, but it's probably too early to call this a real recovery, several airlines reported Tuesday at a virtual investment conference.
"We're seeing some modest improvements," Robert Isom, American Airlines' president, said at the Wolfe Research 13th Annual Virtual Global Transportation & Industrials Conference. "It's a long way to go, but modest improvements (are happening) in terms of loads on our flights today."
Of course, so much uncertainty is shrouding the industry now. While passengers may have been excited to book at great prices in recent weeks, there are no guarantees anxious people actually will get on the planes.
Each of the largest four U.S. airlines will fly more next month than in April and May. But not all see the demand climate evolving in the same way.
Here's how the Big Four see business:
American Airlines
American is running about a 35 percent load factor, month-
