Fuel bill, efficiency, cash reserves, capacity management, and partnerships were the risks and challenges of the present airline industry, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Monday.

The industry fuel bill for 2009 would account for 23 percent of its operating costs with an average price of oil at US$ 56 per barrel (Brent), the association said as its 65th Annual General Meeting officially kicked off here.

While, the fuel bill for 2008 was US$165 billion or 31 percent of operating costs at an average of US$99 per barrel.

"Greedy speculation of oil prices must not hold the global economy hostage. Failure to act by governments would be irresponsible," said IATA's Director General Giovanni Bisignani.

He predicted that the industry's fuel bill decline by US$59 billion to US$106 billion this year.

Bisignani also said the industry gained efficiency over the last decade. Its labor productivity improved by 71 percent, fuel efficiency increased by 20 percent and load factors rose by 7 percent.

"The dramatic downturn in demand could push the non-fuel unit costs higher, which cannot be cut in proportion," said Bisignani.

Bisignani further noted that the third challenge was cash reserves.

Global airlines were in a better cash position than when the industry was facing the challenges of September 11, he said.

Cash reserves of US$70 billion or 13 percent of revenues were stronger than the 9 percent reserves that airlines had in year 2000.

"But our pocket are not that deep. A long L-shaped recovery could drain the industry of cash," said Bisignani.

Also, Bisignani noted that airlines should be careful in capacity management since global load factors for the first quarter of 2009 were down about 3 percent compared to 2008.

"This is less than the falls experienced in some recent crises as a result of airlines better matching capacity to falling demand," said Bisignani.

He said that the 4,000 aircraft expected to enter commercial aviation fleet in the next three years would make the capacity management as an ongoing challenge.

Bisignani also noted that limitations on ownership continued to hinder broader partnership across borders among airlines.

(Xinhua News Agency June 8, 2009)