Okay, serious request for once boys and girls:-

I have to do a presentation (the week after next) addressing one of the worlds larger, wealthier, airlines.
They are based in Asia, and I'm not allowed to say any more than that at this time.

The title is "Fuel Surcharges - The Effect on the Air Industry".
I only have to put something together that will last for around ten minutes.

It has to be relevent, accurate, and I can't 'pad'.

You task, should you decide to accept it, is any information or suggestions that you think might help me out.

Because I've spent all day thinking about this and have come up with about a minute's worth.
ALL DAY!
I need help.

I'm probably going to finish it in Powerpoint (not sure how yet).
I'd really appreciate some input, even if it just makes me think of something else to look at.

I have to finish it this week so I can spend next weekend rehearsing and learning my lines. I'll take notes but I only want to refer to them if I absolutely have to.

Any ideas?

Since any kind of surcharge effects the way a business operates in respect to profit margins, I would head in that direction. After all, business is all about money and profit.

OK Shades, if you're looking to really impress, I wouldn't use Powerpoint..there's a new saying going around now-a-days that when the powerpoint comes up, they eyelids go down. You may use it for some simple charts or graphs if needed but please don't be to dependent on it. There's nothing worse than sitting there listening to someone "reading" off of powerpoint slides.

As far as the topic, not really my area so not alot of advice..the only thing I could say would be to try and find as much info as you can on the "not-so-obvious" things that may stem from Fuel Charges..of course I'm sure you know that already..what kind of research have you done on this so far?

Rixster wrote:

there's a new saying going around now-a-days that when the powerpoint comes up, they eyelids go down.

Yeah I agree.
I want to have no more than 5 slides and use them as no more than a visual representation of what that section will be about.
A kind of chapter heading.

I work in the industry already so I thought it would be quite easy, until I tried it yesterday.
I can already see that I'm also stuck in the trap of assuming my listener will know everything I know about it but I have to convey the basics to people who may/may not already know them.

There will be other similar presentations and I don't know where I'll be in the list so, if anyone has drifted off, I want to wake them up.
At least while I'm speaking.
I am used to performing on a stage, that's not a problem, it's the actual content I'm concerned about.

I would like to know why the US airlines are raising their fares when the European Airlines have been paying higher fuel costs (compared to US prices) for quite some time (about what the US airlines are now paying)... Are the European airline fuel costs offset by government subsidies?

Also, Southwest Airlines is unique - they locked in fuel their costs (futures?) years ago and I do not believe they have raised their ticket prices as yet...

Yep, it all depends on buying price and local markets.

While the dollar is weak, investors are moving into strong commodities - Oil.
That pushes up the price of oil, and weakens the dollar, even further.
Vicious circle.

It's not quite as simple as that (which is the problem I'm having with my presentation);
Some airlines aren't charging any fuel surcharge which forces others to subsidise their fuel surcharge to remain competitive.
Unfortunately this action is not sustainable and we are beginning to see carriers cutting their fleets and workforces to keep up.
This won't end soon I'm afraid and you will see some carriers (particularly U.S.) in deep trouble.

Some big names may not survive.

THIS LINK may help explain it a bit more.

British Airways, Lufthansa, Virgin, Qantas are some of the airlines recently convicted of collusion over price fixing in the U.S.
I can't remember any of the others but there were a few.

another item of interest may be the way some airlines buy fuel, over here Southwest airline apparently had entered into long term contracts that fixed their fuel prices until 2012 before this lastest round of oil price increases began, so they have't had to add surcharges

Piney

Cheers for the info on SouthWest.
Do you know when they fixed the price?

Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject: Re: All (serious) suggestions gratefully received.

Also, Southwest Airlines is unique - they locked in fuel their costs (futures?) years ago and I do not believe they have raised their ticket prices as yet...Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject: Re: All (serious) suggestions gratefully received.

Southwest said it has contracts covering more 95% of its expected fuel needs for the second quarter at the equivalent price of $50 per barrel for oil. That's higher than the $36 per barrel price it locked in for most of its fuel in last year's second quarter.
USA Today article

this as interesting too
Southwest Airlines Co. has signed a multi-year agreement to use the environmentally friendly EcoPower engine-wash system
Bizjournal Link

Whoever did that deal deserves their raise

Shades, a couple years ago Glen Beck dedicated one of his radio programs to coal-to-liquid jet fuel. Google it.

It appears China is also using/developing a coal to liquid fuels process...

and I hear the USAF has already successfully tested it-

coal to liquid fuel

make sure you visit some of the links on the left (especially CTL).

Another site good for 'ideas' is TED.com...

here is "Branson at 30,000 feet"

TED link

cheers.

here is another article

finance.comcast.net/ww...998562.xml

Piney

Cheers guys,
I'll be referring to at least part of this.

Just as an update, followy-up, kind of thing;

Did the presentation and it was received very well so thanks for everyone's input.
Originally I was hoping to pick up a contract from the recipients but then turned them down anyway once I'd heard how much they were willing to pay.