Tough times ahead for airlines: IATA

IATA emphasised that, despite the improvements, profitability at these levels is still exceptionally weak, just a 1.2-per-cent net margin, considering the industry's total revenues of $594 billion.

In its first look at next year, IATA is projecting profits to fall to $4.9 billion on revenues of $632 billion for a net margin of just 0.8 per cent.

"Airlines are going to make a little more money in 2011 than we thought. That is good news. Given the strong headwinds of high oil prices and economic uncertainty, remaining in the black is a great achievement," said Tony Tyler, IATA's director-general and CEO.

"But we should keep the improvement in perspective. The $2.9 billion bottom line improvement is equal to about a half a per cent of revenue. And the margin is a paltry 1.2 per cent. Airlines are competing in a very tough environment. And 2012 will be even more difficult," he said.

IATA's forecast is built around global projected GDP growth of 2.5 per cent in 2011, falling to 2.4 per cent in 2012.

Airline financial performance is closely linked to the health of world economies. Whenever GDP growth has slowed below 2 per cent, the airline industry has lost money.

"We will be perilously close to that level at least through 2012. The industry is brittle. Any shock has the potential to put us in the red," he said.