I've been reviewing our 2011 10-K filing for some facts.

http://investing.businessweek.com/re...&formType=10-K

Fuel was 36% of our operating expense at $11.8B.

All employee salaries made up 22% of expenses, costing $6.8B

Total operating expense was $31.4B.

We have 10,850 active pilots, out of 78,400 total employees. Pilots make up 14% of the workforce.

Now I'm going to make an assumption, because I can't break out pilot cost in the filing.

Average pilot pay & benefits:$130,000 x 10,850 pilots = $1.4B.

$1.4B / $31.4B = 4.5%...Pilots are less than 5% of the company's operating expense.

According to the filing, fuel costs increased from $8.9B in 2010 to $11.8B in 2011.

$11.8B / $8.9B = a 33% increase year over year.

I guess my point in all this is that the company successfully covered increased costs in its greatest operating expense, fuel, 1/3rd of its cost overall. It covered a 33% increase.

Pilots make up less than 1/20th of its operating expense. It could easily cover a 33% increase in 1/20th of its current expense.