Financial performance of top 20 airlines

Abstract

This empricial research article intends to analyse the financial performance of the top 20 airlines in the Word for the period of year 2011 and 2014. In order to measure the financial performance of the airlines on a uniqie base, an hormonic index is propesed by considering performance areas of profitability, operating, efficiency and liquidity. Next, each performance area is defined by using a various of performance ratios. Finally, all airlines companies examined are listed by their harmonic index scores. The total assets of the 20 biggest airlines are amounted over $457 billion in 2014 and Delta Airlines with an assest size of $54 billion is the biggest ailines. On the other hand, the highest revenue generated by Luftansa in 2011, 2012 and 2013 over $40 billion per year The empricial results show that the worst scores of harmonic index refer American Airlines in 2011, Soutwest in 2012, China Eastern Airlines in 2013 and Quantas Airways in 2014, while the best scores of harmonic index point Delta in 2011, Hainan Airlines in 2012 and EasyJet in 2013 and 2014. This analysis supports that the measurement of financial performance based upon total revenuue or profitability is somehow weak and may be extented by including other indicators.