Economy Doesn't Ground Airline Start-ups

Economy Doesn't Ground Airline Start-ups

Economy doesn't ground airline start-ups

In the best of times, profit margins are thin and costs steep. Since 1991, U.S. Airlines have lost $49 billion, says Vaughn Cordle, chief analyst for AirlineForecasts. They're expected to lose another $4 billion in 2009, a year in which the industry has drastically reduced flights and slashed fares to survive a deep travel downturn. Yet, there continue to be airline entrepreneurs, convinced they can carve a unique niche and turn a profit. At the root of their dreams is often the allure of being part of an industry steeped in stories of adventure and larger-than-life figures such as aviator Charles Lindbergh and mogul Howard Hughes. Ref. Source 9