Indian aviation industry's outlook remains weak for FY14: CAPA

29 May 2013 Evaluate

As per the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), an aviation think tank, Indian aviation industry's outlook for FY14 remains weak. In its India Aviation Outlook 2013-14, CAPA noted that in FY13, the domestic airlines industry have reported loss of $1.65 billion with more 40 per cent of the annual loss coming from operations in the last quarter (January-March) of previous fiscal year. Since 2007, the accumulated loss for the industry works out to around $9.5 billion as on March 31, 2013.  

Regarding the debt of the aviation industry, the CAPA report stated that the debt of the aviation industry has increased 8 to 9 per cent in 2012-13 to $14.5 billion with additional vendor-related liabilities of around $2 billion compared with an average cash position of just $500-$550 million. Air India holds just over 60 per cent of that debt.

CAPA further stated that average airlines fares increased by 15-20 per cent year-on-year in the last fiscal and aggressive discounting during the traditionally weak period between January and March resulted in loss of $700 million in the last quarter alone. Further, as per CAPA, the fare level in the current financial year will remain softer compared to the previous fiscal, but there would not be significant easing in airline costs as fuel, the largest input cost, is expected to remain high.  

Referring to the company wise outlook, the report stated that Air India, a major player of the industry, would report a loss of $750-$800 million in FY14. Air India's international operations account for a whopping 80 per cent of its loss. However, the report projects a prosper near-term outlook  for the country's four private airlines - SpiceJet, GoAir, Jet Airways, and IndiGo - which are expected to post a combined profit of over $300 million (Rs 1,620 crore) during the same period. Meanwhile, the overall industry result is expected to remain in the red dragged down by a projected $750-$800 million loss at Air India. 

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