Despite concerns about a global economic slowdown, airlines are expected to make $10 billion in profits this year, according to a new forecast from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The forecast, which was released on Tuesday, is up from $4.7 billion in profits that IATA had forecast for 2023 in December. The increase in profits is being driven by a number of factors, including strong demand for air travel, rising ticket prices, and lower fuel costs.
"The global air transport industry is on track to recover to 2019 levels of profitability this year," said Willie Walsh, IATA's director general. "This is a remarkable achievement, given the many challenges that the industry has faced over the past two years."
The forecast is good news for airlines, but it also comes with some caveats. The global economy is facing a number of headwinds, including rising inflation, interest rates, and the war in Ukraine. These factors could weigh on air travel demand in the second half of the year.
"The industry is facing some headwinds, but we are confident that we will continue to recover," said Walsh. "We are well-positioned to weather any economic storms that may come our way."
The IATA forecast is based on a number of assumptions, including an economic growth rate of 2.7% in 2023. If the global economy grows more slowly than expected, or if air travel demand weakens, airlines could make less profit than forecast.
Despite the risks, the IATA forecast is a positive sign for the airline industry. The industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is on track to recover to pre-pandemic levels of profitability this year.