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"If there’s one sector that stands to benefit handsomely from a further slide in oil or, at least, a moderation in crude’s rally: the airlines," explains energy sector expert Elliott Gue.

In The Energy Strategist, he says, "Airlines may make a terrible long-term investment but can be an outstanding short-term trade." Here he looks at Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) and, for the even more speculatively-inclined, US Airways (NYSE: LCC).

"Some investors will rightfully cringe from any mention of this sector; after all, the airlines have consistently lost money throughout their post-deregulation his

Filed under: Newsletters, US Airways Group (LCC), Oil, Delta Air Lines (DAL), Stocks to Buy

"If there's one sector that stands to benefit handsomely from a further slide in oil or, at least, a moderation in crude's rally: the airlines," explains energy sector expert Elliott Gue.

In The Energy Strategist, he says, "Airlines may make a terrible long-term investment but can be an outstanding short-term trade." Here he looks at Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) and, for the even more speculatively-inclined, US Airways (NYSE: LCC).

"Some investors will rightfully cringe from any mention of this sector; a

Jim Cramer has said it, the Wall Street analysts have said it and some of the most respected money managers have said it: Don't own an airline stock! Apparently people are listening. They are listening so attentively that the airline prices have fallen drastically. Possibly even too drastically.

That's not a very popular train of thought right now with oil prices nearing $150 a barrel. However, with the prices of the airline stocks so low, it is hard for the long term investor not to consider purchasing them.

Having grown up around aviation (with a father who was an air traffic controller and private pilot), it's always been a fascination. As an investor however, I've typically stayed away from airlines: its just a fundamentally difficult business, to put it mildly. Heavy capital requirements, and typically strangling levels of debt don't mesh well with fuel costs rising at alarming rates. While some, such as Southwest, have a great track record, and seem to really know how to profitably run an airline, that's the exception and not the rule.

When the industry took it on the chin after oil breache