US airlines experienced a financial low in the first quarter of 2024, resulting from a $1,6 billion after-tax loss. This alarming figure, released by the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), highlights a significant deterioration compared to the $1,2 billion loss in the same period last year. Despite traditional seasonal fluctuations, these results highlight the complex challenges facing the US airline industry. US airlines' economic rollercoaster Traditionally, airlines in the US experience losses during the winter months, followed by more profitable times during the rest of the year. The 2023 earnings illustrate this dynamic impressively: These figures make it clear that the industry is fundamentally capable of making significant profits after weak quarters. However, the first quarter of 2024, with a loss of $1,6 billion, represents a worrying deviation that also shakes confidence in a quick recovery of the industry. Revenue and expenses in detail US airlines’ operating revenues in the first quarter of 2024 amounted to $56 billion. Of this, 74,6 percent was generated through ticket sales, a figure that remained constant compared to the previous year. Additional sources of revenue were baggage fees (3,1 percent of total revenues) and rebooking fees (0,4 percent). Despite a slight decrease of 0,1 percent compared to the previous year, these fees remain an important source of revenue. On the expenditure side, operating costs totaled $2024 billion in the first quarter of 56,3. Personnel costs were the largest expenditure item at $20 billion (35,8 percent of total expenditure), which represents a