ISTANBUL: Airlines ratcheted up the pressure on governments Monday to roll back regulations that they argue are damaging their industry at a time when soaring fuel prices have pushed many carriers into a "desperate" situation. At its annual meeting here, the global trade body for the airline industry, the International Air Transport Association, or IATA, warned of a significant drop in profitability and a collective loss of up to $2.3 billion due to the effects of high oil costs and the slowing economy in Europe and the United States. Other issues that are vexing the industry include uncertainty about the approach by the European Union and national governments toward state aid and mergers and the exact role that airlines will be expected to play in emerging emissions trading projects. "After enormous efficiency gains since 2001 there is no fat left and skyrocketing oil prices are changing everything," Giovanni Bisignani, the chief executive of IATA, said . "The situation is desperate and potentially more destructive than our recent battles with all the Horsemen of the Apocalypse combined."
ISTANBUL: Airlines ratcheted up the pressure on governments Monday to roll back regulations that they argue are damaging their industry at a time when soaring fuel prices have pushed many carriers into a "desperate" situation.
At its annual meeting here, the global trade body for the airline industry, the International Air Transport Association, or IATA, warned of a significant drop in profitability and a collective loss of up to $2.3 billion due to the effects of high oil costs and the slowing economy in Europe and the United States.
Other issues that are vexing the industry include uncertainty about the approach by the European Union and national governments toward state aid and mergers and the exact role that airlines will be expected to play in emerging emissions trading projects.
"After enormous efficiency gains since 2001 there is no fat left and skyrocketing oil prices are changing everything," Giovanni Bisignani, the chief executive of IATA, said . "The situation is desperate and potentially more destructive than our recent battles with all the Horsemen of the Apocalypse combined."
Budget airline Ryanair today said it would ground up to 10 per cent of its fleet this winter to combat soaring airport charges. The carrier - which unveiled a 17 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to 528 million euro (£419m) in the year to March 31 - said it would be more profitable to keep 20 aircraft on the ground at Stansted and Dublin than put them in the air. Chief executive Michael O'Leary blamed the "unjustified" doubling in landing and handling charges levied by Stansted operator BAA and higher charges at Dublin Airport.
The carrier - which unveiled a 17 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to 528 million euro (£419m) in the year to March 31 - said it would be more profitable to keep 20 aircraft on the ground at Stansted and Dublin than put them in the air.
Chief executive Michael O'Leary blamed the "unjustified" doubling in landing and handling charges levied by Stansted operator BAA and higher charges at Dublin Airport.
also, they charge for a lot of things supplied for free by other companies. check-in, luggage, priority boarding. Noticeably high prices for food and drink keep to the Fen Causeway
But mostly by outsourcing of services to passengers - you carry your own bags or pay for them, you get your own food, you clean your own plane etc
You even have to look at Ryanair ads on the overhead lockers throughout the flight. You can't be me, I'm taken
