SIA net earnings down for fifth consecutive quarter

  Singapore Airlines, second in the Aviation 100 airlines poll to Emirates, has reported that net profit in its fiscal third quarter fell 53% from the same period last year, a fifth straight quarter of reduced earnings, as fuel prices continue to steadily rise whilst demand falls.   Net profit for the three months to December 31, 2011 fell to S$135.2m (US$ 108.4m) from S$288.3m for the same period the year before. The result was about S$20m lower than most forecasts. It is not all bad though as revenue at the airline held firm, rising 1% to S$3.88 billion, which