Airline shares down 12% in 2011; 1Q net losses similar to 2010 on rising fuel

IATA, in its May/Jun-2011 Airlines Finance Monitor, stated airline share prices were 12% down so far this year, compared with a 2% rise in worldwide share prices. Higher oil prices and slower economic growth will damage airline profits more than the profitability of most sectors, IATA said. Meanwhile, airline net losses for 1Q2011 have so far totalled USD1.8 billion, as improvements seen in the previous three quarters were ended by the fuel price surge.