IATA has lowered its profit expectations from its global airline earnings in 2012 to $3.5 billion, 28.6% less than its last prediction, stating its concerns of a net loss of $8.3 billion if the Eurozone crisis continues to worsen and global GDO growth falls.
IATA’s previous forecast was released in September, in which they revealed their expectations of a $4.9 billion profit next year. The airline industry leaders represents more than 200 airlines around the world, including Asia, Europe and the Americas.
“The biggest risk facing airline profitability over the next year is the economic turmoil that would result from a failure of governments to resolve the Eurozone sovereign debt crisis. Such an outcome could lead to losses of over $8 billion- the largest since the 2008 financial crisis,” said Tony Tyler of IATA.
“This admittedly worst-case- but by no means unimaginable- scenario should serve as a wake up call to governments around the world,” he continued. “Government policies need to recognize aviation’s vital contribution to the health of the economy.”
He added that even the best case scenario for next year “is for a new margin of just 0.6% on revenues of $618 billion. But the industry is really moving at two speeds, with highly taxed European carriers headed into the red.”