Airlines’ Profit Slumps by 50% Due to Middle East Disruptions, High Fuel Prices, Says IATA

Chinedu Eze

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has disclosed that airlines would end the 2026 with a profit of $23.0 billion, which is half of the projected $41 billion and attributed the slump to the Iran war and high fuel prices.

IATA made this known when it presented its latest global financial outlook at the on-going 82nd IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

IATA stated that airlines are expected to achieve a combined total net profitof $23.0 billion in 2026, which is roughly half the previously projected $41 billion. It is also roughly half the $45 billion net profit estimate for 2025.

The global body also disclosed that the net profit marginis expected to be 2.0% in 2026, roughly half the previously projected 3.9%. It is also less than half the 4.2% estimate for the 2025 net profit margin.

Also, net profit per passenger transportedis expected to be $4.50, half the $9.10 achieved in 2025 and operating profitin 2026 is expected to be $48.0 billion (down from $76.4 billion in 2025) for a net operating margin of 4.1% (down from 7.2% in 2025).

IATA also disclosed that return on invested capital (ROIC)is expected to be 4.3% (down from 6.6% in 2025). 

The association noted this is below the 8.5% estimated weighted average cost of capital, remarking the gap highlights again the structural weakness of the airline industry where profitability shocks quickly erode capital efficiency.

It stated the total industry revenuesare expected to reach $1.165 trillion in 2026 (up 9.4% on the $1.065 trillion in 2025); thepassenger load factoris forecast to continue to set record highs with airlines expected to fill 84.0% of all seats over the year. That is an improvement on 83.5% in 2025.

Also, passenger numbersare expected to reach 5.1 billion in 2026 (up 2.4% on 2025), while cargo volumes are expected to reach 71.7 million tonnes in 2026 (up 0.2% on 2025).

“War-related disruptions in the Middle East and rising fuel costs have shifted the outlook for airlines to the worse. Globally, airlines are expected to see profitability halve compared to 2025. Profits will shrink from $45 billion in 2025 to $23 billion this year. And margins will shrink from 4.2% to 2.0%.

“All airline bottom lines are suffering from the rapid 70% rise in jet fuel prices. Some of the additional cost is being recuperated by adjusting prices and improving efficiency, but it will not be sufficient to maintain profitability at the previous year’s level. 

“Smaller carriers that started the year with weak balance sheets are certainly struggling. At the regional level, all are in the black but with sharply reduced financial performance, with the exception of the Middle East.

“The Gulf carriers face operational uncertainty following a near complete shutdown of airspace at the outbreak of the war. These carriers are doing an amazing job maintaining connectivity, but major financial impacts are unavoidable,” said IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh.

IATA remarked that even in the best of times, the airline industry as a whole suffers from low margins and returns below the cost of capital, stressing that the oil price shock has tested airline financial resilience as net margins have been squeezed to 2.0% globally.

“Airlines are bearing the brunt of the fuel price shock. While air fares are rising, airlines are still absorbing part of the hike in their bottom lines. Net profit per passenger is expected to fall to $4.50, half of what it was last year.

“Under the circumstances, that shows resilience. But it won’t even buy you a hot dog at most of the FIFA World Cup venues and it does not leave much of buffer should other costs or taxes start rising,” said Walsh.