IATA warns world airlines' profits seen 'balancing on knife's edge'
Source: Agencies |
June 12, 2012, Tuesday
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SQUEEZED by high oil prices, the world airline industry's profit will be slim this year and could be wiped out if Europe tumbles into recession, the global aviation trade group said yesterday.
The International Air Transport Association called for governments to resolve a dispute over European carbon charges on airlines and to avoid tax and regulatory changes it said might hamper industry growth.
Worldwide, airlines should make total profits this year of US$3 billion on revenues of US$631 billion - a 0.5 percent margin, the IATA said in an industry outlook released as it opened its annual general meeting in Beijing.
"The industry's profitability is balancing on a knife edge," said the IATA's executive director, Tony Tyler.
The "most immediate risk" is Europe's debt crisis, which could drag down profits if it triggers a recession, Tyler said. He said a 1 percent drop in airline revenue could turn the small forecast global profit into a US$3 billion loss.
Asian carriers are forecast to post total profits of US$2 billion this year, while US and Middle Eastern airlines also should make money, the IATA said. European carriers may post a US$1.1 billion loss.
High oil prices are a key reason for weak profits, Tyler said.
The group represents 240 airlines including the world's major carriers.
The latest outlook is based on a forecast that oil prices will average US$110 a barrel this year. IATA says fuel accounts for 33 percent of carriers' costs, up from 13-14 percent a decade ago.
The profit forecast represents a decline of over 50 percent from last year's US$7.9 billion. That was down by a similar margin from 2010's US$15.8 billion profit.
Also yesterday, IATA appealed to governments to head off a mounting conflict over European carbon charges on airlines by negotiating a global system to regulate the industry's emissions of climate-changing gases.
China, the US, India, Russia and others oppose the European charges, which took effect on January 1 and require carriers to buy permits to emit carbon. China and India have prohibited their airlines from cooperating and Beijing has blocked purchases of European aircraft by its carriers, stirring fears of further economic retaliation.
"We strongly oppose this unilateral action," said Wang Changshun, chairman of Air China Ltd, one of the three main state-owned carriers, at a news conference with Tyler.
Aviation accounts for 3 percent of total carbon emissions but is the fastest-growing source.
Talks on a global system have begun in the International Civil Aviation Organization.
The International Air Transport Association called for governments to resolve a dispute over European carbon charges on airlines and to avoid tax and regulatory changes it said might hamper industry growth.
Worldwide, airlines should make total profits this year of US$3 billion on revenues of US$631 billion - a 0.5 percent margin, the IATA said in an industry outlook released as it opened its annual general meeting in Beijing.
"The industry's profitability is balancing on a knife edge," said the IATA's executive director, Tony Tyler.
The "most immediate risk" is Europe's debt crisis, which could drag down profits if it triggers a recession, Tyler said. He said a 1 percent drop in airline revenue could turn the small forecast global profit into a US$3 billion loss.
Asian carriers are forecast to post total profits of US$2 billion this year, while US and Middle Eastern airlines also should make money, the IATA said. European carriers may post a US$1.1 billion loss.
High oil prices are a key reason for weak profits, Tyler said.
The group represents 240 airlines including the world's major carriers.
The latest outlook is based on a forecast that oil prices will average US$110 a barrel this year. IATA says fuel accounts for 33 percent of carriers' costs, up from 13-14 percent a decade ago.
The profit forecast represents a decline of over 50 percent from last year's US$7.9 billion. That was down by a similar margin from 2010's US$15.8 billion profit.
Also yesterday, IATA appealed to governments to head off a mounting conflict over European carbon charges on airlines by negotiating a global system to regulate the industry's emissions of climate-changing gases.
China, the US, India, Russia and others oppose the European charges, which took effect on January 1 and require carriers to buy permits to emit carbon. China and India have prohibited their airlines from cooperating and Beijing has blocked purchases of European aircraft by its carriers, stirring fears of further economic retaliation.
"We strongly oppose this unilateral action," said Wang Changshun, chairman of Air China Ltd, one of the three main state-owned carriers, at a news conference with Tyler.
Aviation accounts for 3 percent of total carbon emissions but is the fastest-growing source.
Talks on a global system have begun in the International Civil Aviation Organization.
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