Good and bad news about airlines hog the headlines

Negotiations on the two deals are "on the home stretch" and could come into effect in 2019, the people said.

OVER the last two weeks, we have had so much news about airlines. They include the crash of the Ethiopian Airlines’ Boeing 737, Cathay Pacific announcing its results on its latest turnaround plan and Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s announcement on the possible closure of Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAS).

Cathay Pacific has announced its latest financial results for 2018, with the airline making a profit of 2.1% on a sales revenue of HK$111bil. In only its second year of a three-year turnaround plan, it has reversed its losses incurred in 2017. Net profit margins are thin, though, almost like the hypermarket retail business.