Airline Stocks Rally to a 6-Month High

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Airline stocks rallied Wednesday, after air carriers Delta and US Airways reported better-than-expected quarterly profits.

In fact, the NYSE Arca Airline Index , a measure of the most highly capitalized companies in the airline industry, is trading at its highest since July 27.

The index has been soaring this year, up more than 13 percent, after it hit a headwind in 2011, finishing that year down 31 percent.

Delta Air Lines had a particularly bumpy landing in 2011, ending down 35.8 percent — its worst year ever since going public in 2007.

Here is a look at how some of the major airline stocks are performing so far this year, compared to 2011.