Growth in air transport volumes moderated in February, but the cyclical economic upturn suggests solid growth in volumes ahead.
Key points of IATA Airlines Financial Monitor – March 2014:
- Airline shares have gained 13% since the start of the year, outperforming the market which has stayed flat;
- Improvements in financial performance have driven growth in airline share prices, particularly in the US;
- Q4 financial results show solid improvements in operating profits, mostly in the US but in Europe also;
- Jet fuel prices eased slightly in March as a result of expectations that Libyan crude oil supply will increase;
- US passenger yields are stable on a year ago, but weakness continues in other regions;
- Growth in air transport volumes moderated in February, but the cyclical economic upturn suggests solid growth in volumes ahead;
- Expansion in available seats picked-up in February as new deliveries increased and net storage activity fell;
- Growth in demand will likely resume at rates at least in line with expansion in seats, supporting aircraft utilization;
- And while both passenger and cargo load factors fell slightly in February, they remain up on a year ago.
ΙΑΤΑ Airlines Financial Monitor March 2014
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