Christmas is expected to also see record numbers with even more air travel, as winter break people being the most likely ones to take vacations rather than visit family, which tends to be more local.

The bottom line is key fundamental factors such as lower costs, higher fares, reduced union and pension expense — and no meaningful increase in capacity — should lead to highly profitable quarter and nice rally in their stock price.

My two top picks are JetBlue (JBLU) and Southwest (LUV) as they are focused on the U.S. and Caribbean markets with good market share on some of the most profitable routes.  It also means less exposure to the global market, which has seen less overseas travel amid slowing global growth.  

 

 


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