IATA chief says trade tensions to hit 2019 airline profit outlook

PARIS (Reuters) - The head of global airlines lobby IATA warned on Thursday of lower industry forecasts for 2019, triggered by increasing trade tensions and higher costs.In December, the International Air Transport Association trimmed its 2019 global airline industry profit forecast to $35.5 billion from $38 billion (30 billion pounds), after $32.3 billion in 2018.Alexandre de Juniac, IATA director general, suggested the industry group would trim its forecast again when it meets in Seoul next..