The final financial results from Q3 indicate a further squeeze on airline profit margins resulting from higher input costs last year.
According to the December report of the IATA's Airlines Financial Monitor, industry-wide revenue passenger kilometers rose by 6.2% year-on-year in November.
Key points:
- The final financial results from Q3 indicate a further squeeze on airline profit margins resulting from higher input costs last year. Free cash flow generation also declined moderately in the quarter.
- Equity markets have been volatile in recent months. Global airline share prices fell by almost 10% in December, offsetting the similarly sized increase observed in November as market sentiment on airlines moved with oil prices and recession risk.
- The Brent Crude oil price is currently around $US60/bbl, ~30% lower compared to the values seen during the price peak in early October. Jet fuel prices are trending close to $US78/bbl.
- Base fare passenger yields have continued to come under downward pressure. That said, yields in the less price-sensitive premium cabin have trended upwards recently, helping airlines to recover part of the pick-up in unit costs.
- Industry-wide revenue passenger kilometers rose by 6.2% year-on-year in November, whereas freight volumes stopped growing. Capacity has not slowed with traffic, and therefore load factors are falling
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
