John Whelan: The aviation sector soars again but so do airline costs
Ryanair exemplifies what can be done in a competitive industry but Ryanair Group profits declined by 46% to €360m during the first three months of its latest financial year. Picture: PA
As air travel soars again — the industry is forecasting a record five billion travellers globally this year — the big question for airline executives is how to turn the passenger growth into bottom-line profits.
A smorgasbord of operating problems has hit airlines, from strikes and rising labour costs to higher-for-longer interest rates, sky-high lease rates, and increased regulatory costs, all combining to take the shine off potential net profits.
