5 Best Airline Stocks To Own For 2014

Another week, another problem with Boeing's (NYSE: BA  ) troubled commercial airplanes program.

As you've probably heard by now, inspections centering on a Honeywell (NYSE: HON  ) -manufactured emergency transmitter, that may or may not have been related to a fire aboard an Ethiopian Airlines-operated 787 two weeks ago, have revealed multiple instances of "wiring damage" aboard 787s in the service of airlines ANA and United Continental (NYSE: UAL  ) . This news -- part of a litany of woes involving Boeing planes these past few weeks -- helped to shave 1.3% off Boeing's share price over the course of the week.

But don't you be distracted. Don't lose sight of the bigger picture. Because as frightening as some of these headlines may be to investors, the truth is that Boeing is flying along just fine.

You see, in addition to all the wondering about wiring, we also got some definitively good news out of Boeing last week -- its Q2 earnings report, which came out Wednesday, and featured:

Hot Sliver Stocks To Invest In Right Now: 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 Paul Ausick]

  American Airlines Group Inc. (NYSE: AAL) and Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) have not published revenue data or projections.

  While Delta’s news is spreading good cheer and rising share prices today, all the airlines are wary of a coming increase in a federal tax they pay to support the U.S. Transportation Safety Administration (TSA). Congress approved an increase to the fees paid to the TSA as part of the budget deal it reached last month.

• [By Jack Kramer and Nick Martell] Wall Street's busy buying up super high tickets to the NHL Stanley Cup Final games, while Brooklyn hipsters are flocking to random bars to watch the World Cup -- the two big events must partially be behind the market's recent tumble. Fresh after Wednesday's triple-digit loss, the Dow (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) �dropped 110 points Thursday.
  � 1. Unfit forecasts rip lululemon stock We'll spare you the lame "downward dog" yoga references, but�lululemon (NASDAQ: LULU  ) �dropped 15.9% Thursday after a mixed earnings report. Although revenue topped expectations, rising 11% from last year to $385 million in the first quarter, same-store sales slipped 4%. Even worse, Lulumon cut its full-year revenue forecasts from $1.82 billion to $1.8 billion.
  
  Bad karma has been crushing the Lulu investor's lifestyle. Last year, the "see-through" Lululemon pants caused the company more than $60 million. Then, founder Chip Wilson had to step down last fall after some inappropriate comments -- there are actually�a whole bunch -- about tight black pants and women's bodies. The combo hasn't looked good on the stock.
  
  But Lulu-faithful are confident. New CEO Laurent Potdevin, formerly of TOM'S Shoes and Burton Snowboards, admitted that sales have been slower than expected. And the company's CFO just announced he's stepping down. But the company still plans to buyback $450 million in Lulu stock, which will increase the value of the stock for shareholders.
  The takeaway is that Lulu is harnessing positive energy, and now plans a major international expansion. The company plans to stretch out and add 20 stores in Europe and Asia by the end of 2017, with its first in Hong Kong early next year. Plus, it will be opening 14 pop-up stores in North America to lure new shoppers.
  
  2. Oil stocks celebrate, while airlines suffer from Iraqi violence A sudden onslaught of sectarian violence between the Iraqi government and armed Kurdish rebels has rocked

5 Best Airline Stocks To Own For 2014: Indonesia Transport & Infrastructure Tbk PT (IATA)

PT Indonesia Transport & Infrastructure Tbk, formerly PT Indonesia Air Transport Tbk, is an Indonesia-based air transport service provider. The Company provides air transportation, hiring and/or leasing aircrafts, repairs and maintenance of aircrafts and trading of aviation technical equipment and related spare parts. It also provides medical evacuation services, tourism and scheduled flight services to several routes in central and eastern Indonesia. The Company operates various types of fixed wing aircrafts and helicopters, such as EC 155 B1, AS 365 Dauphin N2 twin turbine helicopter, Beechcraft 1900D, ATR 42-300, ATR 42-500 and Fokker 50. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shereen El Gazzar]

  The forecast, from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), sees the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region with the strongest international passenger growth, with a compound average growth rate of 6.3% and 5.7% respectively.

5 Best Airline Stocks To Own For 2014: Alaska Air Group Inc. (ALK)

Alaska Air Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, Alaska Airlines, Inc. and Horizon Air Industries, Inc., operates as an airline company serving destinations in the western United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company provides passenger air services; and freight and mail services primarily to and within the state of Alaska and on the West Coast. As of December 31, 2009, it operated a fleet of 110 jet aircraft; and Horizon Air Industries operated a fleet of 18 jets and 40 turboprop aircraft. The company was founded in 1932 and is based in Seattle, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Radovsky]

  Most passengers buying tickets on Alaska Airlines (NYSE: ALK  ) on or after Oct. 30 will be paying higher fees for checked baggage and for changing or cancelling their tickets, the airline announced today.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  There’s been a lot of talk that investors are ready to shed their pessimistic views on airline stocks like Alaska Air (ALK) Delta Air Lines (DAL), United Continental Holdings (UAL) and American Airlines (AAL) and embrace them for the long term. The only problem: There’s no sign that they actually are.

• [By Dimitra DeFotis]

  Delta Air Lines (DAL) is leading the pack after reporting traffic figures for the past month; its shares are down 5.5%.�American Airlines�(AAL) also is off 5%, and United Continental Holdings (UAL) is off 6.4%. Domestically-oriented airlines fared better, but shares also are in the red:�JetBlue Airways (JBLU) �and Alaska Holdings (ALK) are each down roughly 2%, while Southwest Airlines (LUV) is down nearly 1%.

• [By Maria Armental and Anna Prior]

  Alaska Air Group Inc.(ALK) said it is planning a 2-for-1 stock split next month. Shares have tripled since the company’s prior split two years ago amid broad sharp gains for airline stocks on signs of consistent profitability.

5 Best Airline Stocks To Own For 2014: China Eastern Airlines Corp Ltd (CEA)

China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited (China Eastern), incorporated on April 14, 1985, is an air carriers operating in the People�� Republic of China. As of December 31, 2010, the Company served a route network that covers 182 domestic and foreign cities in 30 countries. It operates from Shanghai�� Hongqiao International Airport and Pudong International Airport. During the year ended December 31, 2010, its flights accounted for 52.2% and 37.9% of all the flight traffic at Hongqiao International Airport and Pudong International Airport, respectively. During 2010, it accounted for approximately 31.1% of the total passenger traffic volume and 19% of the total freight volume on routes to and from Shanghai. As of December 31, 2010, it had a fleet of 355 aircraft, including 337 passenger jets each with a seating capacity of over 100 seats and 18 freighters.

Passenger Operations

During 2010, the Company operated approximately 9,600 scheduled flights per week, excluding charter flights, serving a route network that covers 182 domestic and foreign cities in 30 countries. During 2010, its domestic routes generated approximately 71.5% of its passenger revenues. Its heavily traveled domestic routes link Shanghai to the commercial and business centers of the People�� Republic of China, such as Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. During 2010, it also operated approximately 361 flights per week to and from Hong Kong, originating from Shanghai and 16 major cities in eastern, northern and western the People�� Republic of China. During 2010, it operated approximately 103 flights per week between mainland China and Taiwan. During 2010, its regional routes accounted for approximately 5.4% of its passenger revenues. During 2010, it operated approximately 1,079 international flights per week, serving 60 cities in 29 countries, linking Shanghai to cities in Asian and Southeast Asian countries, such as Japan, Korea, India, Singapore, Thailand and Bangladesh and locations in Europe, the Un! ited States and Australia.

During 2010, the Company re-started its Shanghai to London and Shanghai to Moscow routes. During 2010, revenues derived from its operations on international routes accounted for approximately 23.2% of its passenger revenues. During 2010, revenues derived from its operations to and from Japan accounted for approximately 7.7% of its passenger revenues and approximately 33.4% of its international passenger revenues. Its international and regional flights and a portion of its domestic flights either originate or terminate in Shanghai, the central hub of its route network. Its operations in Shanghai are conducted at Hongqiao International Airport and Pudong International Airport. On March 16, 2010, it moved its operations at Hongqiao International Airport to the terminal two of Hongqiao International Airport. It operates its flights through three hubs located in eastern, northwestern and southwestern China, namely Shanghai, Xi��n and Kunming, respectively.

Cargo and Mail Operations

The Company�� cargo and mail business utilizes the same route network used by its passenger airline business. It carries cargo and mail on its freight aircraft, as well as in available cargo space on its passenger aircraft. Its cargo and mail routes are international routes. As of December 31, 2010, it had seven MD-11F, four B777F and two B757-200F freight aircraft under operating leases for cargo and mail operations. It also has three Airbus A300-600R aircraft, as well as two Boeing 747-400ER freighters for its cargo operations.

The Company competes with Air China Limited, China Southern Airlines Company Limited, Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited, Cathay Pacific Airways, Thai Airways International, Singapore Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Air Canada, Delta, Alitalia, Air France-KLM Group, Asiana Airlines, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic Airways, British Airways, Lufthansa German Airlines, Aeroflot and Qantas Airways.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Belinda Cao]

  The Bloomberg China-US Equity Index (CH55BN) of the most-traded Chinese companies in the U.S. slumped 3.4 percent last week to a seven-month low of 89.04. The gauge traded at 13.5 times estimated earnings, 3.6 percent below the S&P�� valuation, data compiled by Bloomberg show. China Southern Airlines Co. (ZNH) and China Eastern Airlines Corp. (CEA) lost more than 6 percent April 5, while Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc. (HMIN) tumbled 16 percent in the week.