International Air Transport Association: 'Airline Profitability Strengthens Further'; Net Profit To Almost Double In 2015

In a press release rolled out Monday morning, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) raised its net profit forecast for airlines in 2015, from $25 billion to $29.3 billion. According to the note, the industry is expected to deliver revenues of $727 billion and a net profit margin of 4 percent.

The current estimate of $29.3 billion in net profit implies a 78.6 percent increase from last year’s $16.4 billion, and “reflects the net impact of several global factors, including stronger global economic prospects, record load factors, lower fuel prices, and a major appreciation of the US dollar.”

While analysts forecast improved profitability in all regions this year, some will be more benefited than others. North America will continue to be the strongest, contributing with more than half of the total profit (North America-based airlines are expected to generate $15.7 billion in net profit in 2015). Moreover, EBIT for North American airlines (over 12 percent) is expected to more than double the other regions’.

Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO explained, “For the airline business, 2015 is turning out to be a positive year. Since the tragic events of September 2001, the global airline industry has transformed itself with major gains in efficiency. This is clearly evident in the expected record high passenger load factor of 80.2% for this year. The result is a hard-earned 4% average net profit margin. On average, airlines will retain $8.27 for every passenger carried”.

The following graph clearly summarizes the situation in the industry.

Year-to-date, however, shares of

• Delta Air Lines, Inc. DAL are down 16.5 percent
• United Continental Holdings Inc UAL lost almost 23 percent
• Ireland-based Ryanair Holdings plc (ADR) RYAAY fell roughly 3.3 percent
• Spirit Airlines Incorporated SAVE tumbled 14.75 percent
• Copa Holdings, S.A. CPA dropped 16.35 percent
• Virgin America Inc VA plunged 34.5 percent
• Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA (ADR) GOL plummeted more than 56 percent
• American Airlines Group Inc AAL are down 26.35 percent
• Southwest Airlines Co LUV fell almost 15 percent

Among major airlines, only JetBlue Airways Corporation JBLU gained more than 20 percent.