Yahoo Finance Traffic, revenue figure rise at American Airlines
American Airlines and US Airways report gains in passenger traffic and a key revenue ratio
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- American Airlines and US Airways said Thursday that April passenger traffic rose 4.7 percent on strong demand for trans-Atlantic trips.
The airlines' parent company said that based on April results and forecasts for May and June, it continued to expect that a key financial figure — revenue for each seat flown one mile — would rise by between 4 percent and 6 percent in the second quarter.
The report echoed figures last week from Delta Air Lines Inc. and added to evidence of a continuing rebound of the airline industry after a series of big mergers.
Passengers on American, US Airways and regional affiliates American Eagle and US Airways Express flew 18.11 billion miles last month, including a 10.4 percent jump on trans-Atlantic routes.
The gains outpaced a 3.7 percent increase in passenger-carrying capacity, so the average flight was more crowded — 82.9 percent full, compared with 82.2 percent in April 2013.
American Airlines Group Inc. was formed by the December merger of American and US Airways. It compared April results to the combined numbers from both carriers last year.
Shares of the Fort Worth company rose 70 cents, or 1.9 percent, to $37.92 in late-morning trading. Through Wednesday, they had gained 47 percent in 2014.
