Airlines face 'major slowdown' due to Japan: IATA

The nuclear and earthquake crises in Japan will cause the airline industry a "major slowdown" it will not start to recover from until at least the second half of 2011, industry body IATA said on Friday.

The International Air Transport Association said it was too early to assess the long-term impact but with the $62.5 billion Japan market representing 6.5% of scheduled worldwide traffic and 10% of industry revenues "the fortunes of the industry will likely not improve until the effect of a reconstruction rebound is felt in the second half of the year".

IATA said the most exposed international market to Japanese operations was China, where Japan accounts for 23% of its international revenues.

Taiwan and South Korea were equally exposed with 20% of their revenues related to Japanese operations, followed by Thailand (15%), the United States (12%), Hong Kong (11%) and Singapore (9%).

France was the most exposed European market at 7%, followed by Germany (6%) and Britain (3%).

Earlier on Friday, Deutsche Lufthansa said a sharp rise in fuel costs could hurt its profit, although economic recovery should boost the airline's revenues and operating profit this year and next.

Japan produces 3-4% of global jet fuel supply, some of which is exported to Asia, IATA said.

"Some of this refinery capacity has been lost due to damages caused by the earthquake," it said. "This supply restriction could lead to higher jet fuel prices".