Avolon head of strategy: Full planes not always a cause for celebration

Avolon head of strategy Dick Forsberg forecast a moderate decline in airline industry profitability for 2019 (Belfast Telegraph, 12-Feb-2019). According to Mr Forsberg, airlines are failing to sell sufficient numbers of premium seats and recent airline bankruptcies "suggests that full planes are not always cause for celebration". Mr Forsberg also noted that airline profitability remains highly concentrated, particularly in North America. According to IATA's outlook for 2019 North American carriers are expected to generate a net profit of USD16.6 billion in 2019, accounting for 46.8% of projected industry profits.