Aviation industry expected to post net loss of $2.8 billion in 2010

Airlines are expected to post a net loss of $2.8 billion this year, half the previous forecast, the airline industry body IATA said on Thursday.

That compares with an expected loss of $9.4 billion for 2009, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in an updated financial forecast.

In December IATA said the airline sector would lose $5.6 billion on a net basis in 2010, after losing $11 billion in 2009.