2012 marks beginning of next chapter in US airline industry

While downturn is rife in the airline industry, the US industry will do relatively well, with IATA expecting the US industry to post USD2 billion in earnings in 2011 and USD2.9 billion in 2012 as US carriers limit capacity growth, keeping load factors high.

Within the US there was a higher than expected consumer retailing at the end of the year, and while unemployment is still high it has shown a steady decrease since the last half of 2011.