@mturi - My comments below are about profits NOT share price...
* World economy is improving coz of 'looser' credit thus folks can borrow again. Just not as much. KQ should benefit since Africa(ns) are not that leveraged though lower remittances will hurt.
** Consolidation was overdue. What happened was that anti-trust regulations forced the different airlines to stay separate. BA & Iberia have had talks in the past but now the reasons are more compelling. The 'anti-trust' cops have little choice coz their intransigence might kill BA or Iberia (or make them much smaller). Politically that does not fly with UK or Spain.
*** Oil prices are 'high' but affordable... some airlines will close up shop. That leaves fewer airlines. Fewer passengers. Maybe better margins. KQ has newer planes thus lower direct operating/fuel costs per passenger.
**** Hedging did not work in 2008. Unless you know the details of KQ's FORWARD hedges... how do you know they are ineffective? [Ans: You do not. If you know where oil prices will be... then you can make millions/billions...]
Greedy when others are fearful,Very fearful when others are greedy - to paraphrase WB
Greedy when others are fearful. Very fearful when others are greedy - to paraphrase Warren Buffett