Airlines at centre of storm as coronavirus spreads 

LONDON. — European airlines stepped up their warnings over the coronavirus outbreak on Friday, with British Airways-owner IAG and Finnair flagging a hit to profits and easyJet reporting a big drop in demand into and out of a virus-affected region in Italy.

All three airlines also joined rivals in announcing cost cuts to help whether a storm of unknown severity and duration.

A new coronavirus, which emerged late last year in China, has sent demand for travel plunging in recent weeks as the outbreak has spread around the world, raising fears of a pandemic that could plunge the global economy into recession.

IAG, which also owns Iberia and Aer Lingus, usually gives earnings forecast at this time of year, but said the ongoing uncertainty over the impact and duration of the outbreak meant it could not give accurate profit guidance at this stage.

However, it warned: “We are currently experiencing demand weakness on Asian and European routes and a weakening of business travel across our network resulting from the cancellation of industry events and corporate travel restrictions.”

British Airways has in recent days cancelled flights to and from Italy, Singapore and South Korea, after it suspended all direct flights to China in January. IAG said, further cancellations would follow in the coming days.

Lower air traffic growth projections prompted Spanish travel technology firm Amadeus, to forecast slower 2020 core profit growth on Friday, but it stressed the outlook did not yet account for the uncertain impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

To deal with the drop in business, IAG said it was cutting costs, without giving details — joining the likes of Germany’s Lufthansa and Amsterdam-based KLM   which have announced similar plans.

It also said flight cancellations would reduce capacity growth this year, although CEO Willie Walsh said the group could start to add capacity if other airlines failed.

Airline stocks have been among the biggest casualties of a stock market rout this week as coronavirus fears have gripped investors.  IAG shares were down 8 percent at 474,59 pence, while easyJet  stock was down 3 percent at 1,075 pence and Finnair was off 3,4percent at 4,922 Euros.

Disruption

Budget carrier EasyJet reported a “significant” softening of demand into and out of its bases in northern Italy — the centre of the biggest coronavirus outbreak in Europe — and a reduction across its other European markets.

It also said it would be cancelling some flights, particularly into and out of Italy, and that it would make cost savings across its business, without giving details.

“We continue to monitor the situation carefully and will update the market in due course,” it said, adding it was too early to determine the impact on its results. Finnair, meanwhile, warned of a “significant” fall in operating profit this year due to virus-related disruption.

Finland’s national airline also said it was scrapping its 2020 capacity growth target, and would look into cutting costs by 40-50 million euros ($44-54 million), with measures under consideration including temporary layoffs. — Reuters.