The global airline industry is expected to earn about $39.4billion profit in 2016, the International Air Transport Association, IATA, has announced .
To this end, the IATA Director-General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac called for speed and innovation to enable aviation to continue to deliver its vast social and economic benefits.
According to him, aviation engages about 63 million people globally and airlifts 3.8 billion travellers annually and creates vast business opportunities all over the world.
De Juniac said: “Aviation is the business of freedom. We make global mobility ubiquitous. For 63 million people, aviation provides the freedom to earn their livelihood.”
“For 3.8 billion travelers aviation includes the freedom to explore the world, build understanding, develop business, make friendships, visit relatives or make their lives better. Speed and innovation will secure our future so that we can continue to deliver these benefits,” he said.
His comments were made in a keynote speech at the opening of the IATA World Financial Symposium in Singapore in which he noted that the airline industry is forecast to deliver a collective net profit of US $39.4 billion this year, which would be a record.
“We are having a very good year. I am not predicting an end to the good times, but it would be unrealistic to expect them to last forever,” he noted.
He pointed out that profitability is not evenly spread, with significant variations among regions. Among potential risks de Juniac identified are: a sudden rise in oil prices; an increase in terrorism aimed at aviation and air travel; a sharp economic downturn and a retreat from the principles of free trade by one or more major economies.
