- The jittery airline sector is having a volatile day once again.
- Capacity concerns have been the major focus of sellers, although the strong move higher of oil prices today is also in the background.
- American Airlines Group reported a drop in its load factor earlier as capacity growth came in ahead of revenue passenger miles.
- Though Raymond James issued a biting downgrade on American, United Continental, and Delta yesterday - some analysts such as Sterne Agee CRT's Michael Derchin think the pessimism is overdone.
- Q2 conference calls could calm fears on capacity running hot, reasons the analyst.
- A higher level of buybacks in the sector and reasonable valuations based on earnings projections are also factors.
- Sector watch: Alaska Air Group (ALK -6.4%), Southwest Airlines (LUV -5.8%), SkyWest (SKYW -3.4%), Hawaiian Holdings (HA -4.7%), Spirit Airline (SAVE -4.4%), Delta Air Lines (DAL -3.7%), Allegiant Travel (ALGT -3.6%), Republic Airways (RJET -2.9%), Virgin America (VA -2.6%), United Continental (UAL -1.8%), American Airlines Group (AAL -2%), JetBlue (JBLU -1.9%).
- The U.S. Global Jets ETF (NYSEARCA:JETS) is down 2.96% on the day.
- Previously: American Airlines Group's capacity up 2% in May