(AOF) – At least 50 people were injured this Monday during flight LA800 linking Sydney to Auckland of the Chilean company Latam Airlines. This incident follows a “technical problem” on board a Boeing 787-9 aircraft, which caused a strong movement. 12 people were hospitalized. This new incident comes after that involving another model from the American manufacturer Boeing. At the beginning of January, a door of a Boeing 737 MAX 9, operated by Alaska Airlines, came loose a few minutes after takeoff, causing a few minor injuries.
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Results weakened again for European companies
While fuel represents up to 35% of their costs, professionals estimate that European airlines are not expected to return to profit before 2023 or 2024 at the earliest. These players predict that energy prices would remain high at least until 2023. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced a forecast of cumulative losses of $9.7 billion in 2022 for airlines to across the world we will still have to wait until 2023 to see a return to profits on a global scale, particularly due to the surge in oil costs and the increase in labor costs. Positive point: travel demand seems to be resisting the uncertainties caused by the international economic and political situation. However, uncertainties regarding Covid, the war in Ukraine, as well as rising prices are increasing last-minute reservations. According to Iata, only 8% of international reservations made at the end of May went beyond September.
The social climate is deteriorating in low-cost airlines
These companies are benefiting from a very strong recovery. They had already managed to monopolize 40% of air traffic in 2021, this proportion could even rise to 50% this year. However, strike movements have affected the activity of Volotea, EasyJet and Ryanair, with confrontations over remuneration and working conditions. Generally speaking, the sector is facing a shortage of personnel. After having severely cut their workforce in 2020 and 2021, companies and airports must urgently recruit to support the resumption of activity.
The end of a duopoly?
For several decades, the American Boeing and the European Airbus have shared 99% of the world market for airliners with more than 110 seats. This market is worth more than 100 billion dollars per year. However, this duopoly appears weakened in 2022 for several reasons. First, for the first time, two medium-haul single-aisle aircraft, the C919 from China’s Comac and the MC-21 from Russia’s Irkut, are preparing to enter service. Added to this is the Boeing 737 MAX crisis. With the cessation of deliveries of this aircraft between 2019 and 2021, the production balance has been disrupted. In 2021 Boeing posted 340 deliveries, with Airbus remaining well in the lead, with 611.