Airlines are gearing up for their busiest time of the year. Triple-A projects an almost 2% increase in air travel over the Thanksgiving period compared to last year.
But not airline stocks are created equal. Which are positioned to take off?
According to Maxim Group senior airline analyst Ray Neidl niche growth carriers are the stocks in this space that have tailwinds.
"Look at Alaska Airlines," he says. Unlike some of the big carriers, they're growing. And I don’t think it’s fully valued at current prices.”
And he also says take a look at Spirit, Allegiant , and Hawaiian. “These are all niche carriers that are doing well even in the weak economy. ”
Looking at the big airlines, trader Steve Grasso tells us he’s long AMR but after the comment, Neidl just cringes.
“When a stock is below $2/share the market is saying there’s a serious chance of bankruptcy. If American doesn’t get big cost savings agreements from its pilots and other cost savings, they will probably have to restructure,” Neidl cautions.
______________________________________________________
Got something to to say? Send us an e-mail at fastmoney-web@cnbc.com and your comment might be posted on the Rapid Recap. If you'd prefer to make a comment, but not have it published on our Web site, send those e-mails to
Trader disclosure: On Nov 22, 2011, the following stocks and commodities mentioned or intended to be mentioned on CNBC’s "Fast Money" were owned by the "Fast Money" traders; Seymour is long AAPL; Seymour is long BAC; Grasso owns AA; Grasso owns AKS; Grasso owns AMR; Grasso owns ASTM; Grasso owns BA; Grasso owns BAC; Grasso owns D; Grasso owns LIT; Grasso owns MHY; Grasso owns PFE; Grasso owns PRST; Grasso owns S; Grasso owns XLU; Terranova is long VRTS; Terranova is long LQD; Terranova is long MUB; Terranova is long AXP; Terranova is long IBM; Terranova is long EMC; Terranova is long SU; Terranova is long HES; Terranova is long AAPL; Terranova is long CSCO; Terranova is long STLD; Terranova is long CNQ; Terranova is long CAT; Terranova is long LULU; Terranova is long SBUX; Finerman owns AAPL; Finerman owns BAC; Finerman owns GOOG; Finerman owns JPM; Finerman’s firm owns AAPL and short calls; Finerman’s firm owns JPM and leaps; Finerman’s firm owns IBM and short calls; Finerman’s firm owns WMT and short calls; Finerman’s firm owns BKS; Kinahan is long GE; Kinahan is long C; Kinahan is long AAPL
For Steve Grasso
Stuart Frankel & Co and its partners own CSCO
Stuart Frankel & Co and its partners own CUBA
Stuart Frankel & Co and its partners own GERN
Stuart Frankel & Co and its partners own GM
Stuart Frankel & Co and its partners own HPQ
Stuart Frankel & Co and its partners own HSPO
Stuart Frankel & Co and its partners own JPM
Stuart Frankel & Co and its partners own MET
Stuart Frankel & Co and its partners own MSFT
Stuart Frankel & Co and its partners own MU
Stuart Frankel & Co and its partners own NYX
Stuart Frankel & Co and its partners own PRST
Stuart Frankel & Co and its partners own RDC
Stuart Frankel & Co and its partners own UAL
Stuart Frankel & Co and its partners own WFT
Stuart Frankel & Co and its partners own XRX
For Alex Panagiotidis
Stern Agee is a market maker in VIX
For Peter Misek
Jefferies & Company, Inc makes a market in the securities or ADRs of Apple Inc.
Jefferies & Company, Inc makes a market in the securities or ADRs of Amazon.com, Inc.
Jefferies & Company, Inc makes a market in the securities or ADRs of Google, Inc.
For Ray Neidl
No disclosures
For Fred Cannon
KBW expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking services from Wells Fargo & Company in the next three months.
KBW currently makes a market and/or acts as a liquidity provider in Wells Fargo & Company securities.
KBW expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking services from Morgan Stanley in the next three months.
KBW currently makes a market and/or acts as a liquidity provider in Morgan Stanley securities.
KBW expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking services from Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. in the next three months.
KBW has received compensation for investment banking services from Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. in the past 12 months.
KBW currently makes a market and/or acts as a liquidity provider in Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. securities.
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. currently is, or was during the 12-month period preceding the date of distribution of this report, a client of KBW.
KBW expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking services from Citigroup in the next three months.
KBW has received compensation for investment banking services from Citigroup in the past 12 months.
Citigroup currently is, or was during the 12-month period preceding the date of distribution of this report, a client of KBW.
KBW expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking services from Bank of America Corp. in the next three months.
KBW currently makes a market and/or acts as a liquidity provider in Bank of America Corp. securities.
KBW expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking services from JPMorgan Chase & Co in the next three months.
KBW currently makes a market and/or acts as a liquidity provider in JPMorgan Chase & Co securities.
CNBC.com with wires.