How Are Airlines Preparing For Renewed Interest In Travel After Pandemic?

Pandemic-hit airlines have been among the few sectors that have been left out of the bull market. But their time may be coming, as pent-up demand meets a reopening economy.
To prepare, companies have been using the downtime to develop technology and expand their customer bases.

Rundown On The Runways: Shares in American Airlines Group Inc AAL are down 40% from when the COVID-19 pandemic became a reality last year, so there is room to rebound. On Thursday, American Airlines and JetBlue Airways Corporation JBLU announced 80 new routes they would begin booking using a practice called code-sharing.

Although the agreement was opposed by JetBlue pilots, the new routes will begin flying Feb. 25.

Jet Blue also announced that starting this spring, customers of both airlines will be able to use the airlines' rewards programs to earn points and air miles with either carrier. The companies believe this will increase loyalty and help fight off competition with other U.S. airlines.

Jet Blue also announced on Feb. 11 new service between Miami International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport, as well as airports in the Northeast: New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport and Boston Logan International Airport. JetBlue says these new services will help expand the company’s customer base and its market share in the Northeast. Shares in JetBlue are down 40% in February.

On Friday, United Airlines Holdings Inc UAL announced an expansion of its global routes, offering nonstop service between Boston Logan International Airport and Heathrow Airport in London.

The company said the service will help to expand its presence in London.

United Airlines also has been active on the electric aircraft front. On Feb. 11, United announced it would be providing expertise in airspace management to help Archer Aviation develop battery-powered, short-haul aircraft.

United Airlines also plans to buy up to 200 electric air taxis from Archer for $1 billion. The taxis would take people to airports, bypassing dense urban areas. Mesa Air Group Inc MESA also is part of the deal. The investment is a good sign for Archer's plans to go public via a SPAC.

United's shares are down nearly 40% in the past year but up more than 6% for the past month.

Delta Airlines, Inc. DAL is also using technology to get ahead of the game. On Thursday, Delta announced a multi-year agreement with IBM IBM to bring more of Delta's applications into the cloud.

Delta announced earlier in 2020 a partnership with IBM to develop a quantum computer using the IBM Q Network.

Delta hopes these projects will transform the travel experience.

Shares in Delta Airlines are down over 20% in February.

What's Next: There’s hope for more relief, with the U.S. Congress expected to pass the next stimulus bill in the coming weeks. On hopes of stimulus, the US Global Jets ETF JETS is up 15% since the beginning of February.

(Photo: United Airlines)