IATA on Monday more than doubled its 2023 profit forecast for the global airline industry despite a looming economic downturn.
Airlines are expected to make $9.8 billion in net profit in 2023, up from a December forecast of $4.7 billion.
The industry’s main lobby group expects 4.35 billion people to travel by air this year, not far off the 4.54 billion passengers who flew in 2019.
The figures mark a significant turnaround for the airline industry, which carried just 1.8 billion passengers in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, at a loss of $76 per traveler.
From that nadir, air travel has rebounded even as high inflation and rising interest rates weigh on spending by businesses and consumers in other areas.
Persons:
Willie Walsh, ” Walsh, Walsh, “, CNN’s Richard Quest, we’re, ” — Gayle Harrington
Organizations:
London CNN — Global, International Air Transport Association
Locations:
Istanbul, “