Giovanni Bisignani Airlines Quotations

Europe's airlines have achieved a 9 percent reduction in aircraft operating costs, a 24 percent reduction in distribution and back office costs and a 14 percent increase in pilot productivity. Airports, on the other hand, gave the airlines a 13 percent increase in per-passenger costs, with a total bill for airlines and their users of $14.5 billion.

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.

Airports take their own commercial decisions on their ownership structure. But this must not be at the expense of exploiting airlines through higher charges.

Airlines will spend $34 billion more for fuel this year than last, and about $1.4 billion of that will make its way to the bottom line. That will drive losses to $7.4 billion for 2005.

Airlines moved fast after Sept. 11, re-engineering, restructuring. But governments have not played a role,