Would Transportion Sector Be Impacted By The Swine Flu?

On Business Times. Air travel to stay strong

• AIRASIA Bhd (5099) does not expect the swine flu outbreak to slow down air travel.
  
  "If anything, we may see a shift towards more short-haul travel around this region. I am gloomy about the economy, but I'm not too worried about the swine flu. We have been through this before and we are prepared for pandemics," AirAsia group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes told reporters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
  
  He was speaking at the rollout of AirAsia's acceptance of American Express (Amex) cards for bookings online and through call and sales counters.
  
  "Signing on with Amex proves that low fares do not mean low quality and that we can reach out even to the very premium of customers," Fernandes said.
  
  AirAsia saw 21 per cent year-on-year increase to 3.1 million passengers in the first quarter of the year. This was despite a 25 per cent increase in seat capacity in the last quarter.
  
  "We are confident that this number will grow now that Amex card members are able to easily book seats with us," Fernandes added.
  
  Amex officials declined to reveal the number of cardholders it has in the country.
  
  Amex recently won the Best Brands in Premium Payment Cards in the Brand Laureate Awards.
  
  AirAsia saw a 400 per cent jump in corporate customers in the last three months as more companies cut down on premium travel expenses.
  
  Almost 5 per cent of its customers now are corporate travellers.
  
  Fernandes expressed his confidence that the figure could increase to 10 per cent, but did not state when it was likely to reach that target.

Hmm... for the record, TF is saying that he is gloomy about the economy and not on the swine influenza A/H1N1, eh? :D

Well many might be nervous about the possible pandemic caused by it. ( See also Estimates Of Economic Costs Of A Flu Pandemic )

On today's Financial Sense Market Observation, the following editorial
Don't Let the Flu Get You Down focused on the previous impact of SARS and Avian influenza on Dow Jones Transport. Do give it a read. :)

• The past two outbreaks, SARS and the Avian flu, had little affect on the transports during those times. The damage to hotel occupancy in Asia during SARS was more attributed to the WHO travel warning than news of the outbreak. Until it can be proved that this outbreak can be transmitted by air or the WHO makes any additional travel warnings, as far as financial investments are concerned, don’t let the flu get you down

Two charts from the editorial, Don't Let the Flu Get You Down