Hot Airline Stocks To Invest In 2014

LONDON --�Management can make all the difference to a company's success and thus its share price.

The best companies are those run by talented and experienced leaders with strong vested interests in the success of the business, held in check by a board with sound financial and business acumen. Some of the worst investments to hold are those run by executives collecting fat rewards as the underlying business goes to pot.

In this series, I'm assessing the boardrooms of companies within the FTSE 100 (UKX). I hope to separate the management teams that are worth following from those that are not. Today, I am looking at�InterContinental Hotels� (LSE: IHG  ) (NYSE: IHG  ) , the world's largest listed hotels group.

Here are the key directors:

Director Position Patrick Cescau (non-exec) Chairman Richard Solomons Chief Executive Tom Singer Finance Director Kirk Kinsell President, Americas Tracy Robbins EVP, Human Resources

Patrick Cescau became chairman at the beginning of this year. A lifelong�Unilever�employee, he was its CEO from 2005 to 2008, and also served as its chairman and its finance director. His FTSE 100 directorships include�International Airlines Group�(which must have some interesting spin-offs),�Tesco,�and, previously,�Pearson.

Top Machinery Companies To Own For 2015: Ryanair Holdings PLC (RYA)

Ryanair Holdings plc (Ryanair Holdings), is a holding company for Ryanair Limited (Ryanair). Ryanair operates a low-cost, scheduled-passenger airline serving short-haul, point-to-point routes between Ireland, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, and Morocco. As of June 30, 2012, the Company offered approximately over 1,500 scheduled short-haul flights per day serving approximately 160 airports largely throughout Europe with an operating fleet of 294 aircraft flying approximately 1,500 routes. Ryanair sells seats on a one-way basis. The Company also holds a 29.8% interest in Aer Lingus Group plc. As of June 30, 2012, Ryanair�� operating fleet was composed of 294 Boeing 737-800 aircraft, each having 189 seats. Ryanair�� fleet totaled 294 Boeing 737-800s at March 31, 2012. As of June 30, 2012, Ryanair owned and operated four Boeing 737-800 full flight simulators for pilot training. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Inyoung Hwang]

  Ryanair Holdings Plc (RYA), the discount airline operator that�� the second-biggest stock in Ireland�� ISEQ index, declined 1.7 percent to 7.23 euros in Dublin. Kerry Group, a supplier of food ingredients, sank 1.4 percent to 45.24 euros.

Hot Airline Stocks To Invest In 2014: Gogo Inc (GOGO)

Gogo Inc incorporated on December 14, 2009, is a holding company. The Company operates through its two operating subsidiaries, Gogo LLC and Aircell Business Aviation Services LLC. The Company provides in-flight connectivity and wireless in-cabin digital entertainment solutions. It provide turnkey solutions for passengers to extend their connected lifestyles to the aircraft cabin. It operates in two segments: commercial aviation (CA) and business aviation (BA). Its CA business provides in-flight connectivity and digital entertainment solutions to commercial airline passengers through their personal Wi-Fi enabled devices.

The Company provides Gogo Connectivity to passengers to nine North American airlines that provide Internet connectivity to their passengers. It provide Gogo Connectivity to passengers on Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Virgin America, Alaska Airlines, US Airways, Frontier Airlines and Air Tran Airways. It also provide Gogo Connectivity to passengers on a small number of aircraft operated by United Airlines and Air Canada. As of September 30, 2011, the Company had equipped 1,177 commercial aircraft, representing approximately 85% of Internet-enabled North American commercial aircraft, which were operated on more than 4,200 daily flights.

The Company�� BA segment sells equipment and provides services for in-flight Internet connectivity and other voice and data communications under its Gogo Biz and Aircell branded products and services. BA�� customers include original equipment manufacturers of private jet aircraft such as Gulfstream, Cessna, Hawker Beechcraft, Bombardier, Dassault, Embraer, NetJets, Flexjets, Flight Options and CitationAir. It sells equipment for three of the primary connectivity network options in the business aviation market: Gogo Biz, through which it delivers broadband Internet connectivity over its (air-to-ground )ATG network, and the Iridium and Inmarsat SwiftBroadband satellite networks. As of September 30, 2011, the Company had m! ore than 700 Gogo Biz systems in operation and more than 4,600 aircraft with Iridium satellite communications systems in operation, and it has sold more than 100 Inmarsat SwiftBroadband systems. It provides in-flight broadband connectivity across the contiguous United States and portions of Alaska through 3 MHz of FCC-licensed ATG spectrum and its network of cell sites.

Through its Gogo platform, the Company provides passengers with a convenient and easy way to access the Internet, view video content, send and receive email and instant messages, and access corporate VPNs on Gogo-equipped commercial aircraft. It provides Internet access through Gogo Connectivity, on-demand streaming video offerings through Gogo Vision and access to a variety of free entertainment and service offerings, customized for each airline, through Gogo Signature Services.

The Company competes with Panasonic Avionics, Row 44, OnAir, LiveTV and Thales.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonas Elmerraji]

   

  Nearest Resistance: $16��br>Nearest Support: $14��br>Catalyst: Analyst Upgrade

  Inflight internet provider Gogo (GOGO) is up more than 9% this afternoon, following an analyst upgrade from UBS. The bank pegged a $23 price target on the stock, upping its rating from neutral to buy. After selling off hard earlier this month on competition fears, the upgrade is proving to be enough of a catalyst to break shares out above $14.

  After trading lower for all of 2014, GOGO was starting to look "bottomy" at the start of May thanks to a short-term inverse head and shoulders pattern -- that pattern is getting triggered by today's upgrade news. While the downtrend is still very much intact for GOGO, the near-term trajectory for shares is pointing higher from here.

Hot Airline Stocks To Invest In 2014: JetBlue Airways Corporation(JBLU)

JetBlue Airways Corporation provides passenger air transportation services in the United States. As of December 31, 2011, it operated approximately 700 daily flights to 70 destinations in 22 states, Puerto Rico, and Mexico; and 12 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America through a fleet of 120 Airbus A320 aircraft and 49 EMBRAER 190 aircraft. The company, through its subsidiary, LiveTV, LLC, provides in-flight entertainment, voice communication, and data connectivity systems and services for commercial and general aviation aircraft, including live in-seat satellite television, digital satellite radio, wireless aircraft data link service, and cabin surveillance systems. JetBlue Airways Corporation was founded in 1998 and is based in Forest Hills, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Adam Levine-Weinberg]

  Other carriers are getting into the game, too. JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU  ) has historically operated a fleet of 150-seat Airbus A320s and 100-seat Embraer E190s. However, this fall the carrier will begin taking delivery of 190-seat Airbus A321s (the largest narrowbody aircraft currently in production). Management is very excited about the potential for these larger aircraft to lower unit costs over the next few years. JetBlue plans to add 30 A321s to its fleet, and has scaled back the growth of its E190 fleet to accommodate the A321.

• [By Paul R. La Monica]

  Smaller airlines Alaska Air (ALK), JetBlue (JBLU) and Spirit (SAVE) have also fallen, but not as much as the big four national carriers.

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  Getty Images @Lebeaucarnews Here's something those trying to cash in on frequent flyer miles or points seldom hear: It's now easier to book the flight you want to the destination you want. The annual Switchfly Reward Seat Availability Survey, which gauges the frequent flyer programs at 25 of the world's largest airlines, found seats were available for frequent flyer redemption on 72.4 percent of the flights checked. That's a 1.3 percent increase compared with the prior year. "I was surprised by this year's results," said Jay Sorensen, president of IdeaWorks consulting firm, which surveyed 7,640 flights in March. "Typically, when you see the industry recovering from financial duress, one of the things they cut back on is giving away free seats." Instead, many airlines have actually made frequent flyer seats available on more of their flights. Sorensen credits the boost to the independent credit cards many flyers now use to rack up award miles that they can redeem without restrictions. Those credit cards, like the one offered by Capitol One, have become popular with consumers, and have forced airlines to make it easier for members of their own frequent flyer programs to cash in miles or points in order to compete. "[The airlines] want to compete against the bank-issued credit cards, so this is one way for them to do that," Sorensen said. Another factor is an accounting rule that says airlines can book revenue from the sale of frequent flyer miles only after the passenger has traveled. Low-cost carriers offer the most options As has been the case in past years, low-cost carriers have the most flights offering seats for frequent flyer redemption, according to the study. On average, 95.8 percent of the low-cost airline flights surveyed had seats available. By comparison, traditional airlines had frequent flyer award seats on 65 percent of their flights. That's up 4 percent from last year, but still well below the availability offered by low-cost airlin

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of AMR Corp. have gained 9.7% to $6.91–just 3.4% from its 52-week high–while US Airways has risen 5.5% to $22.57. Southwest Airlines (LUV) has advanced 3.4% to $16.96, Delta Air Lines (DAL) has jumped 2.6% to $26.27 and JetBlue Airways (JBLU) is up 2.9% at $12.31.

Hot Airline Stocks To Invest In 2014: Southwest Airlines Co (LUV)

Southwest Airlines Co., incorporated on March 9, 1967, operates Southwest Airlines, a passenger airline, which provides scheduled air transportation in the United States. As of December 31, 2011, the Company was serving 72 cities in 37 states throughout the United States. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company added addition services in two new states and three new cities: Charleston, South Carolina; Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina; and Newark, New Jersey. Southwest provides point-to-point. On May 2, 2011, the Company acquired AirTran Holdings, Inc. (AirTran).

AirTran�� route system provides hub-and-spoke, rather than point-to-point, service, with approximately half of AirTran�� flights originating or terminating at its hub in Atlanta, Georgia. AirTran also serves a range of markets with non-stop service from bases of operation in Baltimore, Maryland; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Orlando, Florida. As of December 31, 2011, AirTran was serving 68 United States and near-international destinations, including San Juan, Puerto Rico; Cancun, Mexico; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Nassau, The Bahamas; Oranjestad, Aruba; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and Bermuda. As of January 31, 2012, AirTran served 65 destinations. During 2011, approximately 71% of Southwest�� customers flew non-stop, and Southwest�� average aircraft trip stage length was 664 miles with an average duration of approximately 1.8 hours.

As of December 31, 2011, Southwest offered 25 weekday roundtrips from Dallas Love Field to Houston Hobby, 13 weekday roundtrips from Phoenix to Las Vegas, 13 weekday roundtrips from Burbank to Oakland, and 12 weekday roundtrips from Los Angeles International to Oakland. Southwest offers connecting service opportunities from over 60 Southwest cities to different Volaris airports in Mexico including Aguascalientes, Guadalajara, Mexico City (MEX), Mexico City-Toluca (TLC), Morelia, and Zacatecas. The Company�� International Connect portal conducts two separate transac! tions: one with Southwest�� reservation system and one with Volaris�� reservation system.

Southwest bundles fares into three categories: Wanna Get Away, Anytime, and Business Select. Wanna Get Away fares are lowest fares. Business Select fares are refundable and changeable, and funds may be applied toward future travel on Southwest. Business Select fares also include additional perks, such as priority boarding, a frequent flyer point multiplier, priority security and ticket counter access in select airports, and one complimentary adult beverage coupon for the day of travel. The Company�� Internet Website, southwest.com, is the avenue for Southwest Customers to purchase tickets online. During 2011, southwest.com accounted for approximately 78% of all Southwest bookings. During 2011, approximately 84% of Southwest�� Passenger revenues came through its Website, including revenues from SWABIZ, the Company�� business travel reservation Web page.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Adam Levine-Weinberg]

  A competitive threat
  For the most part, Spirit has been successful by flying under the radar of the major carriers. It is still a very small carrier compared to the major airlines: AMR (NASDAQOTH: AAMRQ  ) , Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL  ) , Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV  ) , and United Continental (NYSE: UAL  ) . Moreover, it generally appeals to a different type of customer than those carriers: one who is extremely price-sensitive.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Yesterday, American Airlines (AAL) rose 1.9%, while Delta Air Lines (DAL) gained 1.8%, Southwest Airlines (LUV) advanced 0.8% and United Continental (UAL) finished up 0.3%, even as the S&P 500 fell 0.5%.

• [By Louis Navellier]

  In my opinion, Southwest Airlines� (LUV) is by far the most efficient passenger airline in the U.S. But now that two of its rivals are merging to form the largest airline in the world (US Airways (LCC) and the parent company of American Airlines), can Southwest keep up its track record of out-performance? Find out now.

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Michael then began to study Southwest Air (LUV), the most profitable airline in its industry. When Michael recently visited us and, when we asked, he described the epiphany he had at Love Field in Dallas more than twenty years ago when a Southwest Air plane landed. The Southwest Air plane was immediately surrounded by its ground crew that Michael thought looked like swarming locusts! The Southwest Air plane was quickly prepared for its next flight; its new passengers boarded; and the plane took off for its next destination in about half the time other airlines needed to prepare their planes for flight. Michael immediately grasped the reason Southwest Air planes produced more revenues and profits than others' planes. It was because they flew on average two more short haul flights every day than others! Michael put that lesson into practice at Ryanair. In the hub airports where his airline had previously operated, the inefficiencies of those welllocated facilities made it impossible to turn around a plane for takeoff in less than an hour. Ryanair then began to operate from less convenient and less crowded but more efficient regional airports. His goal was to turn around Ryan's planes in less than 25 minutes! Further, while flag carriers which land in hub airports pay an ever increasing amount per passenger, each year to use those facilities, Ryanair is paid to land at regional airports that are seeking jobs and tourists! Ryanair passes those savings on to its passengers, with significantly lower fares and better service. Of course, its customers need to be willing to travel using airports that are a little less convenient.While competitive flagship airlines are losing money or are marginally profitable, Ryanair is profitable and growing quickly.