Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 94: Southern Discomfort

Numbers were put to the misery South African Airways has been experiencing when, last month, the airline finally reported earnings for its fiscal year ending in March 2017. Those numbers included a gut-wrenching negative 9% operating profit margin on the year. “Crisis” isn’t too strong of a word. What is SAA doing to turn things around? Elsewhere, it’s steady-as-she-goes for Cebu Pacific, which again is sitting among the world’s profit leaders. The Indian government has solicited bids for a 76% stake in Air India. Any taker would get the surprisingly-profitable Air India Express but would also have to assume a considerable amount of debt. Plus, the comeback continues at Kenya Airways. And lastly, will Berlin’s new airport ever open?