GENEVA (AP) — The global airline industry forecast Thursday ajump in profits to $19.7 billion next
year, helped by falling jet fuelprices, rising travel demand and cost-cutting.The Geneva-basedtrade
association for the world’s airlines said the strong outlook —well above its expected net profit of $12.9
billion this year and $7.4billion in 2012 — would be its biggest absolute profit ever.Butthe International
Air Transport Association, which represents 240airlines, or 84 percent of total air traffic, noted that the
marginswould be low. Next year’s profit would come from projected revenues of$743 billion, whereas 2010’s
$19.2 billion was made on revenues of just$579 billion.Tony Tyler, director-general and CEO of IATA,
toldreporters that the profit would amount to a little less than $6 perpassenger."To put that into
perspective, the McDonald’s down theroad here in Geneva will make about the same amount of profit by
sellingfour Happy Meals at a cost in Geneva of $30," said Tyler.He noted that kind of margin, at 20
percent, is well out of reach for airlines."Itbegs the question of whether $6 per passenger is a
reasonable rewardfor airlines if you consider the technology, skills and capital that isinvested," he
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