Industry’s 2005 Loss May Total $6 Billion

The world’s airlines probably will lose a total of $6 billion this year, less than an earlier forecast, because the price of oil has fallen from a peak in August, the International Air Transport Assn. said.

The association, which represents 265 carriers worldwide, had estimated that airlines could lose as much as $7.4 billion in 2005 if oil prices remained high and the threat of avian influenza deterred people from traveling.