Airline executives gathering at an industry event in Kuala Lumpur dismissed talk of “green shoots” and signs of recovery in the slumping airline industry.  Executives maintain it will be at least two years before resurgence will take place. 

Replying to a question about evidence of a recovery, President of Emirates Airline Tim Clark said “Green shoots? That’s something which has been trotted out for the last seven months.”  He said the first signs of recovery will probably be in mid-2010, which means a full recovery would be in mid 2011, “but that is still two years down the line.”  The International Air Transport Association said that airlines could lose US$1.5 billion (Dh 5.51bn) and the economic slowdown in other regions could impact long haul airlines