IATA: Airlines industry net margins remain 'razor thin'

IATA director general and CEO Tony Tyler announced (07-Jun-2012) the association will revise its airline industry earnings outlook next week, taking into consideration the volatility over recent months. Mr Tyler said oil prices are still high, although moderating somewhat from recent peaks and that the European sovereign debt crisis is unresolved and we are seeing signs that it is starting to affect Asia's export-driven economies. Passenger demand is "strong", cargo is "weak" and the industry's profitability "remains razor thin". In Mar-2012, IATA announced its industry outlook for a USD3.0 billion profit on USD633 billion in revenues for a net margin of 0.5%. [more - original PR]