United Airlines Capitalizes on Robust Demand Amid Falling Fuel Prices
Skift Take
Two months ago, airlines were panicked about the price of fuel. But fuel is now cheaper than it was before the run-up, and business is booming. It seems like it's a good time again to be an airline executive.
After United Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella wakes, he likes to monitor recent bookings to check if business remains strong. Increasingly, he likes what he sees, not only from corporate customers but also from leisure travelers.
"It's an exciting time to kind of wake up every morning and look at the bookings that we've taken over the last day or two and the type of yield we're taking," he said Wednesday at the Credit Suisse 6th Annual Industrials Conference in Palm Beach, Florida.
What's not to like?
Demand for domestic and European flights is booming. Asia is performing fine, including China, despite talk of a Trump-induced trade war. And Latin America, while still soft in Brazil and Argentina, is at least not as rough as a couple of years go. Plus, premium demand is hot, as corporations and individuals, flush with cash, pay a little (or a lot) extra for a more comfortable experience.
It gets better. Three months ago, airlines were so spooked by higher fuel prices — between Feb. 13 and Oct. 3, the price o
