The Mighty Allegiant Posts A Record Operating Margin

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I’m sitting here writing this week’s in-depth earnings call review of the third quarter results from Allegiant Travel.

It, along with in-depth looks at the earnings results from other airlines, will be in this week’s issue of PlaneBusiness Banter, which will be posted Monday.

Inundated with numbers and corporate executive double-speak as I am this weekend (and yes, in case you missed it, we did have a moment of “triangulation” in this quarter’s United Airlines’ call) I simply had to stop and relay something I just wrote — for all of you. Not just subscribers.

In fact, I should have mentioned it here in PlaneBuzz earlier this week. I simply forgot to do so.

(As for the “triangulation” reference, if you are a faithful reader you know that I am referring to a “Tiltonism.”) Enough said.

But back to what I wanted to share. It needs no introduction except to say it comes from the beginning of my review of Allegiant’s third quarter earnings performance.

And I quote,

“Maury [Gallagher, CEO of Allegiant] is never one for subtlety. And this quarter was no exception as he let everyone know two things on the call — right off the bat. One, the third quarter is typically the weakest of the four for the airline. Two, the airline posted a 16.5% operating margin for the quarter.”

I feel like I need to insert the sound of a rimshot here. Please.

Did you happen to catch that number? Let me replay it for you. S-l-o-w-l-y. The airline posted an operating margin of 16.5% for the quarter.

Okay, I’m going back to work. I suggest you close your mouth and go back to whatever it is you were doing before I interrupted you.

And people wonder why I like this airline’s damn business plan so much. Sheesh.