[ad_1] The post 7 Top Airline Stocks for 2021: These Airlines Are Poised to Take Off as Travel Rebounds appeared first on Millennial Money. Looking for a few great airline stocks to buy right now? I’ve put together a list of seven of the best stocks in the airline industry. It’s no surprise that the global pandemic decimated the airline industry across the globe in 2020. With planes grounded around the world, many airlines were forced to take severe cost-cutting measures to ride out the pandemic-induced storm. But in many parts of the world, economies are reopening and air travel is bouncing back, thanks to a rise in COVID-19 vaccinations. The United States recently saw more than 2 million passengers passing through TSA’s airport screenings, representing 74% of the total travelers at the same time in 2019. Airport screenings don’t usually cause anyone to celebrate, but both travelers and investors are seeing it as an important milestone on the way to the travel industry bouncing back. If you’re in the market for airline stocks, some of which are, ahem, getting off the ground already (I’m hilarious), then read on to find out why these seven companies are some of the best stocks to benefit from travel recovery in 2021. 7 Top Airline Stocks Here’s my list of the top 7 airline stocks. American Airlines Group United Airlines Holdings Inc. Delta Air Lines, Inc. Southwest Airlines Co Allegiant Travel Company JetBlue Airways Corporation Spirit Airlines, Inc. American Airlines Group (Nasdaq: AAL) American Airlines Group (NASDAQ:AAL)Price: $22.29 (as of close Jun 18, 2021) American Airlines is one of the oldest U.S. airlines and it’s the largest airline company in the country based on passenger capacity, thanks to a merger with US Airways back in 2013. Like all airlines, the company received a major shock to its business in 2020 as the pandemic spread across the globe. American Airlines responded in the same way you’d expect any business to respond when demand dries up: the company drastically cut costs. The result was American Airlines going from a daily spend of $100 million near the beginning of the pandemic to just $27 million in the first quarter of 2021. As expected, American Airlines is still suffering from a lack of leisure travel, business, and international travel demand. In the first quarter of 2021, revenue was down 53% as the result of a 39% reduction in total available seat miles. The pandemic also caused American Airlines to take on even more debt, which the company was already struggling with before 2020. The company now has debt obligations of $50 billion, the most in the industry. But as the U.S. economy opens back up and people are beginning to make travel plans again, American Airlines estimates that second-quarter capacity will only be down about 25% compared to the second quarter of 2019. While the company’s share price took a major hit in 2020, American Airlines’ stock gained more than 100% in the first five months of 2021. United Airlines Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: UAL) United Airlines Holdings (NASDAQ:UAL)Price: $54.92 (as of close Jun 18, 2021) With just $5 billion in debt, United Airlines doesn’t have the same debt issues that American Airlines has, but it’s also a much smaller company. And like the industry in general, United Airlines is seeing more travelers booking flights again. The company’s management said in the first quarter of 2021 that if business and long-haul international demand returns to just 35% below 2019 levels, then the company will return to positive net income. You gotta celebrate the wins, right?! In the first quarter of 2021, the company’s operating revenue was down 66% from the first quarter of 2019, thanks to passenger capacity that was down 54% from the first quarter of 2019. But the company is seeing a turnaround in the travel industry as well and the company expects that second-quarter capacity will be down 45% from comparable 2019 levels and revenue per available seat mile (RASM) will be down 20%. United’s share price has begun to rebound in 2021 and the company’s stock gained 35% in the first five months of 2021. Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE: DAL) Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL)Price: $44.96 (as of close Jun 18, 2021) Delta Air Lines is another top airline stock investors are no doubt keeping a close eye on. The company’s share price gained 18% in the first five months of 2021 and there could be much more growth from this company as it emerges from the effects of the pandemic. For one, the company is already experiencing significant demand for its flights, so much so that CEO Ed Bastian said recently that he expects Delta to return to profitability on a pre-tax basis by the second half of 2021. Not too shabby for a company whose entire business essentially dried up just last year. That’s not to say that Delta doesn’t have its work cut out for it. But the company made some strategic moves during the pandemic—like simplifying its fleet—that helped it cut costs and improve its runway to profitability. Delta still has sizable debt right now, to the tune of about $29 billion, but management expects its debt levels to subside over the next few years. Customers love Delta and their loyalty is paying off, even before airline travel has fully returned. Management has said that Delta will achieve its goal of about $7 billion from its credit card partnership with American Express (NYSE: AXP) by 2023—up 63% from pre-pandemic levels. Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE: LUV) Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV)Price: $55.19 (as of close Jun 18, 2021) Southwest Airlines hardly needs an introduction considering the company is already widely known for its fun and friendly approach to the airline industry and its penchant for offering the best discounted airfares. But it’s not just the airline’s customers who love Southwest. Investors are smitten with the company as well because the airline is consistently profitable. Consider that Southwest is one of the only