United Continental Holdings Inc. (NYSE: UAL) reported Thursday that its passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increased by as much as 12.5% in December, compared with the year-ago period. The company also said that it expects fourth-quarter capacity to increase 2.6% and for traffic to rise 2.6% with 82.4% of all seats filled.
United shares rose more than 11% in early trading and set a new 52-week high of $46.19. The 52-week low is $23.62.
Recently merged American Airlines Group Inc. (NYSE: AAL) also rose to a new 52-week high. The company said PRASM for American Airlines increased about 9% in the month of December. Capacity was 14.2 billion available seat miles (ASMs), or 1.1% higher year over year. U.S. Airways’ PRASM for the month of December increased about 12%, and capacity came to 7.4 billion ASMs, or up 3.6%.
Shares of American rose more than 6% in early trading to $29.60. The 52-week low is $12.70.
Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced Wednesday that in December ASMs grew 3.4% to 10.8 billion from the December 2012. PRASM for the month was estimated to have increased as much as 15%.
Shares here reached a new high as well. The stock hit $20.75 in morning trading. The 52-week low is $20.36.
Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) also saw its shares rise nearly six percent in early trading Thursday to a new 52-week high of $31.58, compared to a 52-week low of just $13.09.
While JetBlue Airway Corp. (NASDAQ: JBLU) got an early bump as well, hitting a new 52-week high of $9.20, it fell back and was down almost 1% in late morning trading.
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