Founder & Managing Director, AIR Control Tower, AIR Control Tower

Neil Glynn

Founder & Managing Director, AIR Control Tower

AIR Control Tower

AIR Control Tower is an independent research and analysis platform. Its mission is to provide impactful insight and analysis across the global airline industry at a company and market level via detailed financial models to aid decision making for key stake holders at a time when risks have seldom, if ever, been higher and the global sector grapples with the imperative of funding de-carbonisation. Unique analysis forecasting global carrier-level earnings/cash flows, and restructuring/de-leveraging prospects, is designed to dynamically assess the health of the industry, predict surprises and identify potential requirements for third party support.

Insights on the global airline industry

Equity Bottom-Up

International Consolidated Airlines Group / Equity Bottom-Up

International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A. provides transportation services. The Company offers international and domestic air passenger and cargo transportation services. International Consolidated Airlines Group serves customers worldwide.

International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG LN)

International Consolidated Airlines Group

<ul>
<li>Following highly challenged 1H24 performances from Air France-KLM and Lufthansa, but strength from IAG, we publish a deep dive on the drivers of divergent performances.</li>
<li>We raise our forecasts at IAG but make heavy cuts at Air France-KLM and Lufthansa, with concerns over their ability to improve over pre-pandemic performances.</li>
<li>This critical juncture, as each carrier implements some type of transformation plan, and carriers around the world see earnings re-set downwards, requires strong governance for expanding portfolios of airlines.</li>
</ul>


Following highly challenged 1H24 performances from Air France-KLM and Lufthansa, but strength from IAG, we publish a deep dive on the drivers of divergent performances.
We raise our forecasts at IAG but make heavy cuts at Air France-KLM and Lufthansa, with concerns over their ability to improve over pre-pandemic performances.
This critical juncture, as each carrier implements some type of transformation plan, and carriers around the world see earnings re-set downwards, requires strong governance for expanding portfolios of airlines.


European Airlines – Moving Parts Within Group Performances Illustrate Structural Requirements

Azul S.A. offers airline services. The Company provides passenger air transportation services by air carriers, assistance for boarding, and cabins for pets, as well as compartments for elderly and disabled passengers. Azul serves customers worldwide.

<ul>
<li>Azul's valuation looks optically below, but we publish a deep dive illustrating that cash outflow concerns are the key driver.</li>
<li>Heavy levels of payment arrears built up through COVID are likely to take time to wash through the cash flow statement, which should be a watch point for Abra discussions</li>
<li>Given Azul's margins are top tier by global standards, and Abra airlines Avianca and GOL have moderate leverage, we struggle to see major synergies that would change Azul's situation.</li>
</ul>


Azul's valuation looks optically below, but we publish a deep dive illustrating that cash outflow concerns are the key driver.
Heavy levels of payment arrears built up through COVID are likely to take time to wash through the cash flow statement, which should be a watch point for Abra discussions
Given Azul's margins are top tier by global standards, and Abra airlines Avianca and GOL have moderate leverage, we struggle to see major synergies that would change Azul's situation.


Azul – Cash Flow Overhang Requires Structural Solution

Ryanair Holdings plc provides low fare passenger airline services to destinations in Europe.

<ul>
<li>Ryanair issued a stark warning on summer pricing today with 1Q25 results and we cut our FY25 net income 31% accordingly.</li>
<li>Our forecasts represent a re-set of unitary economics to pre-pandemic levels and it is difficult to plot improvement unless consolidation benefits or winter surgery help FY26.</li>
<li>Ryanair's cost advantage has widened markedly against peers, justifying a strategy of continued market share focus as competitors face greater challenges.</li>
</ul>


Ryanair issued a stark warning on summer pricing today with 1Q25 results and we cut our FY25 net income 31% accordingly.
Our forecasts represent a re-set of unitary economics to pre-pandemic levels and it is difficult to plot improvement unless consolidation benefits or winter surgery help FY26.
Ryanair's cost advantage has widened markedly against peers, justifying a strategy of continued market share focus as competitors face greater challenges.


Ryanair – FY25 Weakness Suggests a “normalization” and Prompts Structural Industry Questions

<ul>
<li>Latest fare data suggests an incrementally more concerning trend for Ryanair pricing from June.</li>
<li>Concerns over pricing continue to increase in Europe, following Lufthansa's profit warning last week.</li>
<li>We cut our FY25 net income by 9% to €2,289m albeit remain above consensus of €2,170m.</li>
</ul>


Latest fare data suggests an incrementally more concerning trend for Ryanair pricing from June.
Concerns over pricing continue to increase in Europe, following Lufthansa's profit warning last week.
We cut our FY25 net income by 9% to €2,289m albeit remain above consensus of €2,170m.


Ryanair - Pricing Appears to Be Softening; Re-Setting Profitability Expectations

Deutsche Lufthansa Aktiengesellschaft provides passenger and cargo air transportation services worldwide. The Company offers flight and connection programs in North America, Scandinavia, and Asia. Deutsche Lufthansa also provides travel agency, catering, and aircraft maintenance services.

<ul>
<li>Lufthansa mainline losses in 2024 force management to pursue transformation</li>
<li>​Portfolio management challenges driven by a variety of factors including LH mainline unit costs and pricing at sister companies</li>
<li>Much work to do to turn ITA around, while firm management focus is required at home</li>
</ul>


Lufthansa mainline losses in 2024 force management to pursue transformation
​Portfolio management challenges driven by a variety of factors including LH mainline unit costs and pricing at sister companies
Much work to do to turn ITA around, while firm management focus is required at home


Lufthansa Group – Revisiting Margin and Portfolio Management Challenges

Neil Glynn, FCA, CFA, is Founder and Managing Director of AIR Control Tower.

Neil has near to 20 years of aviation experience, based in Dublin and London, including the roles of Credit Officer at CIT Aerospace and head of global transport equity research at Credit Suisse. 

The quality of Neil’s industry-leading research and forecasting across the value chain is long-recognized by investors (long track record of top tier placing in Institutional investor European Transport analyst survey; ranked #3 in last survey in 2021) and corporates (regular management team/board workshops, conference presentations around the world). 

Neil has also led 10 initial public offering (IPO) processes, assessing the investment case of corporates seeking to attract new investors.