IATA: Asia Pacific profitability lagging behind North America due to capacity expansion

IATA Asia-Pacific regional VP Conrad Clifford reported (26-May-2017) Asia Pacific carriers are lagging behind North American carriers in terms of profitability. IATA forecasts for 2017 that Asia Pacific carriers will achieve an average 2.9% profit margin, against a profit margin of 8.5% in North America. Mr Clifford said the reason Asia Pacific carriers are not as profitable "is because they are adding big chunks of capacity to cater to growth". [more - original PR]