American Airlines CEO Says Industry May Never Again Lose Money
Skift Take
For decades, airlines have followed a predictable boom-and-bust cycle. But have U.S. carriers finally figured out how to change that? American's CEO thinks so. It'll take some time learn if he's right, though.
The U.S. airline industry has been so transformed in the past five years that the nation's largest carriers may never again report annual losses, American Airlines CEO Doug Parker told investors recently.
"My personal view is that you won't see losses in the industry at all," said Parker, speaking June 8 at American's annual meeting. "We have gotten to the point where we like other businesses will have good years and bad years, but the bad years will not be cataclysmic. They will just be less good than the good years."
Parker has long been optimistic, believing airline consolidation has turned Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and American into formidable, sustainable busines
