The recent surge in fuel prices and Delta's disclosure that it will have to post 750 million dollars of cash collateral to extend its credit card processing agreement indicate that the airline's already slim chances of avoiding bankruptcy are dwindling rapidly.
Northwest has been losing a fair amount of money for a while now. I expect they feel they need to move forward quickly on these cost savings given where fuel prices are and going into the weak winter season.
Northwest's hopes of negotiating concessionary labor contracts with its unions were overtaken by the surge in fuel prices, which deepened the airline's losses and cash outflow.
American Airlines is benefiting from much improved pricing and load factors, particularly in the U.S. domestic market, which are helping to offset very high fuel prices.
Probably not. Particularly with fuel prices where they are. But they have been narrowing their losses every year in bankruptcy.
Those three factors, pension, labor and fuel prices, likely were the major considerations.
Those three factors, pension, labor and fuel prices, will likely be the major consideration as they come up to Oct. 17.