Jim Rogers calls bottom for the airlines sector

LONDON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Jim Rogers, one of the world's best known investors, has said the world's publicly listed airlines may have reached a bottom after a prolonged struggle against high oil prices and the economic downturn.

Launching a new airline stock index with Royal Bank of Scotland, Rogers said the volume of airline bankruptcies, lower capacity and falling oil prices could see more prominent carriers prosper.

'The airline industry has been a nightmare for several years now, with dozens of airlines going bankrupt ... That is often the sign of a bottom,' he said in a statement.

'Capacity is shrinking at some airlines, while there will always be demand for seats. Many managements have now learned the lessons of the past decades,' he added.

The Rogers Airlines Index will be composed of 20 global airline stocks.

(Reporting by John Bowker, editing by Will Waterman) Keywords: ROGERS AIRLINES/ ([e-mail]; [phone]; Reuters Messaging: [e-mail]) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.