The failure of Europe’s biggest regional airline Flybe could be the start of more casualties, analysts predict. A global airline industry body warned the financial hit from coronavirus could reach $113bn (£87bn) this year. The bleak prediction came on the same day UK-based Flybe went into administration. Airline experts are forecasting more failures as passengers cancel flights. Flybe’s collapse « will likely be the first of many in 2020, » said James Goodall, a transport analyst at Redburn. « We expect that the demand destruction caused by Covid-19 accelerated its demise and we believe further airline bankruptcies should be expected in the coming months. 

» Airlines could lose $63bn to $113bn in revenue from the slump in passenger traffic globally this year, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Thursday. Last month, it had predicted losses of $29bn. Demand has plummeted, not just from holidaymakers, but from corporate travel as firms restrict business trips for employees and conferences are postponed. 

« There will be a significant increase in airline casualties in this scenario, 

» said Michael Duff, managing director at The Airline Analyst. You are required to undertake a detailed financial analysis of Flybe over the last 3 years. In your report, consider the following sections: (Conduct your own research) 

a) The company overview.

b) The financial Analysis for the last 2 years. Consider computing and analyzing profitability, liquidity, efficiency and solvency ratios.

c) Other non-financial issues pertinent to the case.

d) Critically analyse the outlook of the airline industry and make recommendations to a prospective investor interested in the airline industry.

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

Economic analysts Moodys forecasts that despite disruption caused by surging coronavirus cases and bad weather during the 20212022 winter holiday travel season the global outlook for passenger airline... View the full answer