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by Roberto Coloma

SINGAPORE, Sept 20 (AFP) - Asia-Pacific carriers are shuddering from fresh turbulence after the airborne terrorist attacks in the United States further clouded the regional travel industry's prospects amid an economic slowdown.

With tourists and businessmen alike scrapping travel plans to and from North America, analysts expect Asian airlines to defer or cancel plane orders placed when the region was poised to lead the world in aviation growth.

Airlines in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Southeast Asia with a high exposure to trans-Pacific routes are bearing the brunt of the aftershocks in Asia from the US crisis. Their revenue forecasts are being downgraded and share prices hammered as a result.

"Demand is going to come under pressure over the next few months and it could extend for a rather prolonged period," said Philip Wickheim, an aviation analyst with ING Barings in Hong Kong.

A travel slowdown was already being felt in Asia before the attacks because of a sharp economic downturn, with key economies already in or near recession.

A US-led military operation against Afghanistan, which provides sanctuary to alleged terrorist supremo Osama bin Laden, will exacerbate the situation.

The Boeing Co., manufacturer of four jetliners hijacked by suspected Arab terrorists who crashed three of the planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, is laying off up to 30,000 employees, while US airlines are slashing more than 60,000 jobs.

Boeing said the job cuts were meant "to address the changed business environment," and pressure was also growing on its European rival Airbus.

German airline Lufthansa said Wednesday it was deferring orders for 15 Airbus A380 superjumbos and four Boeing 747-400s.

In Tokyo, a spokeswoman for Japan Airlines, Asia's biggest carrier, said it was expecting to incur some 22 million dollars in losses as a result of the attacks but had no plans so far to alter aircraft orders or change schedules.

All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd. (ANA) said due to the cancellation of US-bound flights it was expecting losses of up to 6.8 million dollars.

Singapore Airlines cancelled 21 flights to North America over the past week but a spokesman said: "We have not cancelled any aircraft deliveries or deferred any orders."

"We are still monitoring the situation," he added.

Chew Li Mei, a Singapore-based analyst with Indosuez WI Carr, said American routes contribute about 10 percent to SIA's overall passenger revenues.

"But the ultimate impact will be higher," she said, noting that SIA owns 49 percent of Virgin Atlantic which "is basically a US carrier."

"It would make logical sense for SIA to defer (aircraft) orders given that the passenger load would not be able to match the growth in capacity of about six percent per annum," Chew added.

"If they cancel aircraft orders it would be good news on the yields."

Taiwan's China Airlines (CAL) hopes to offset its US business decline with the opening of China's air market following Beijing's entry into the World Trade Organization.

It is buying 25 percent of Shanghai's China Cargo Airlines for 45 million dollars in the largest ever cross-strait aviation deal.

Another Taiwanese carrier, EVA Airways, also ruled out altering its flight schedules in the short term despite poor revenues.

Thai Airways International has resumed US flights but Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has warned the flag carrier's plans to sell 13 percent of its shares to investors and staff this year could be imperilled.

"The situation will not be favorable until it is clearer as to what next move the United States will take," he said.

Korean Air and Asiana Airlines had no figures available on their expected losses as a result of the terrorist attacks, but Korean Air predicts demand may fall by up to 20 percent if the US strikes Afghanistan.

Malaysian Airline System (MAS) has resumed its daily flights to Los Angeles but its thrice-weekly services to New York remains suspended.

A spokeswoman said the loss-making airline, which is undergoing restructuring, did not foresee any significant dent to its earnings from the US terror attacks.

In Australia, the repercussions from the US crisis compounded the effects of the collapse of debt-ridden Ansett Airlines, prompting the government to take a fresh look at economic growth forecasts.

Ansett's parent Air New Zealand is also struggling despite a financial lifeline thrown by the government and key shareholders.

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