IATA cuts airline profit forecast

IATA cuts airline profit forecast
By admin


The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has cut its 2014 earnings forecast to $US18.7 billion ($A20.89 billion), after oil prices soared over the Ukraine crisis.

The new figure is a decrease of $US1.0 billion from the previous forecast issued in December, IATA said yesterday.

It blamed political tensions in countries including Ukraine, saying they were expected to drive oil prices to an average $US108 per barrel, $US3.50 more than expected.

But the extra $US3.0 billion added to the industry's fuel bill is expected to be largely offset by stronger demand, especially for cargo, thanks to a strengthening global economy, IATA said.

And while profits are set to be dented by fuel costs, overall industry revenues look likely to rise to $US745 billion, or $US2.0 billion more than previously projected, it said.

As a result, this is a "tweak and the overall forecast is still very aligned to our December thinking," IATA chief executiv Tony Tyler said.

If the sector delivers the new earnings forecast, that would still mark the industry's highest-ever profit, according to IATA.

In 2012 airlines made $US6.1 billion, while last year ended with a profit of $US12.9 billion.

"In general, the outlook is positive. The cyclical economic upturn is supporting a strong demand environment. And that is compensating for the challenges of higher fuel costs related to geo-political instability," Tyler said.

Latest News

  • Luxury

COMO launches new family-sized farmhouse in the heart of Tuscany

COMO Hotels and Resorts has launched its new farmhouse apartments in the heart of Tuscany, just in time for Australians to escape our wet winter. And it’s also an ideal time for Aussies of Italian ancestry to explore their home country as 2024 has been declared the year of Roots and Heritage Tourism by the […]

  • Destinations
  • News

New Caledonia in lockdown and airport closed after violent riots rock Noumea

New Caledonia officials have announced a 6pm-6am curfew, a liquor ban and have closed the country’s main airport after overnight riots in which vehicles were torched and roads blocked in the wake of proposed constitutional reforms. Australian Government website Smartraveller has issued an alert informing visitors to exercise a high degree of caution in metropolitan […]