Other than Southwest, Allegiant Air is the most consistently profitable airline in the United States. But given higher fuel prices and some recent negative press, how long will Allegiant's streak last? We're betting it continues for awhile.
The 60 Minutes report on Sunday about Allegiant Air was solid, serious journalism. But it wasn't much of a surprise to industry insiders, who have known about the carrier's issues for awhile. Will executives have to deal with a wider fallout now?
Yes, 2017 wasn't the best year for Volaris. But don't count out the airline. It has one of the lowest cost bases in the world. That's always a good thing — especially in a downturn.
Passengers should cheer news that Volaris and Frontier will codeshare, as it should help Americans visit many more Mexican destinations at cheap prices. But will Volaris and Frontier cooperate enough to make the process seamless for passengers? We'll soon find out.
It's not clear whether United or Frontier will win this battle in Denver. But what is nearly certain is that passengers will be the beneficiaries. They'll likely find cheaper fares.
It's hard to consistently make money in the airline industry. But Indigo Partners, led by former America West Airlines CEO Bill Franke, has an excellent track record. Once again, he is poised to make a big profit after buying an airline cheaply and taking it public.