US Express Post Losses

US Airways Express revenues were up 8.8 percent during the second quarter but it was not enough to overcome the $822 million in expenses -- $340 million of which was for fuel, an 81.6 percent increase in fuel alone. Other expenes only rose 3.6 percent to $482 million. US Airways provided capacity guidance for Express carriers – including wholly owned regional airline subsidiaries, Piedmont Airlines and PSA Airlines, as well as operating and financial results from capacity purchase agreements with Mesa Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines, Air Wisconsin Airlines and Republic Airlines – which will grow eight to 10 percent in the third quarter but drop one to three percent in the fourth quarter compared to the year-ago period. For 2008, Express carriers will experience a four to six percent growth in capacity, and, for 2009 a five to seven percent drop in capacity compared to 2008. For a complete analysis see the next issue of Regional Aviation News.