MAS-AIR ASIA : LEND THE SHOULDER FOR BETTER TOMORROW !!

Airlines in financial crisis, aviation group says

Airlines around the globe are in their most widespread financial crisis since World War II, the world's largest aviation trade group said Thursday.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents 230 airlines worldwide, reported that December's international air passenger traffic fell 4.6% year-over-year, and only about 74% of plane seats were sold. International air cargo volume fell an unprecedented 22.6% year-over-year, a sign of plummeting consumer spending.

"There is no clearer description of the slowdown in world trade," said Giovanni Bisignani, the association's CEO.

The report came on the same day that four U.S. carriers — Alaska, (ALK) Continental, (CAL) JetBlue (JBLU) and US Airways (LCC) — posted losses for 2008.

The only major US carrier that reported a 2008 profit is Dallas-based discount giant Southwest Airlines. (LUV) American, (AMR) Delta (DAL) and United (UAUA) also posted 2008 losses.

"Like other airlines that have reported before us, our financial results reflect the staggering increase in fuel prices we faced throughout most of 2008," said Doug Parker, CEO of US Airways

In all, the IATA said airlines worldwide lost $5 billion last year, and will post more losses this year.

That number could be low. Wall Street analysts such as Calyon Securities' Ray Neidl say U.S. carriers posted combined 2008 losses of about $4.5 billion, not including special write-downs for accounting purposes.

This is the first time in memory that airlines in virtually every region of the world have been simultaneously hurt by falling ticket sales and cargo loads, the IATA said.

The Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks hit U.S. carriers hardest in consumer demand. The 2002-03 epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome hurt carriers serving Asia the most.

But in recent months, the crisis of last summer's record-high jet fuel prices has been supplanted by a crisis in consumer confidence worldwide. Falling demand for vacation trips and business travel have prompted widespread fare sales.

In response to fuel price increases, U.S. carriers slashed routes. As of last fall, U.S. carriers were planning to ground more than 500 airplanes, JPMorgan reported.

This week, two of Asia's largest carriers, Singapore Airlines and Japan Airlines, said they will start cutting flying capacity to better match supply and consumer demand.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-01-29-profit-loss-airlines_N.htm

Masalah sekarang ni bukan kegagalan dasar penswastaan tetapi masalah global yang menghimpit syarikat penerbangan. Secara ringkasnya dapat disimpulkan bahawa setiap kali dunia mengalami masalah kewangan, setiap kali itulah syarikat penerbangan mengalami masalah yang sama. Jadi, sekarang ni bukan masa nak salahkan orang tetapi bagaimana nak membantu menyelesaikan masalah syarikat-syarikat penerbangan ini.

Kepada sesiapa yang masih nak hentam Kerajaan berkenaan JV antara MAS dan AirAsia, ketahuilah bahawa sesiapa yang mengambil alih MAS adalah orang berhadapan dengan risiko kerana hutang MAS amatlah tinggi. Berilah peluang kepada Tony Fernandez mencuba nasib untuk memperbaiki keadaan sebagaimana Datuk Idris Jala berjaya lakukan pada tahun 2005. Kalau Tony gagal, time tu nak kutuk dia pun boleh. Tapi cuba bagi peluang dulu kat salah seorang tokoh usahawan yang berbakat ni dulu.

TQMYMASSA