On the Horizon

Foresights and insights presented at the annual IATA Annual General Meeting

- ENRIQUE PERRELLA

AS AIR TRAVEL surges beyond pre-pandemic levels, the airline industry is set to generate $979 billion in revenue this year. But IATA director general Willie Walsh warned that the numbers mask deeper issues.

Speaking at the 81st IATA Annual General Meeting in Delhi, Walsh praised the industry's resilience but noted its 3.7-percent profit margin is unsustainable. “That's just $7.20 in net profit per passenger,” he said. “Our profitability is not commensurate to the enormous value that we create.”

Flying remains the safest form of long-distance travel, with just seven fatal accidents among 40.6 million flights in 2024. But Walsh urged governments to act. “Less than half of the accident investigations over the last six years have published a final report. Missing insights are lost safety opportunities,” he said, calling for better intelligence sharing around conflict zones.