Giovanni Bisignani Next Quotations

Oil remains the single-biggest challenge for airline profitability. Strong demand gives little hope of significantly reduced prices this year. What is disappointing is the response of the oil industry. Instead of expanding refinery capacity, the oil companies plan to return a quarter of a trillion dollars to investors over the next two years. Airlines alone have contributed $14 billion to this windfall profit. It is time that governments stepped in to encourage investment in new refinery capacity along with research into alternative fuel sources.

The fuel crisis at Heathrow is unprecedented. Today's agreement is a pragmatic solution to a very difficult, complex and unique situation. IATA will continue to closely monitor the situation. The next hurdle will be accommodating summer schedules that begin on 31 March. Simultaneously IATA will undertake to develop a global standard for handling future supply crises.