Robert Silk

1 day ago | travelweekly.com | Robert Silk

While some members warn that the tariffs could disrupt global supply chains and increase operational costs, others believe the industry can adapt without significant damage. IATA director general Willie Walsh said that if tariffs stay relatively modest, like the 10% baseline tariffs the U.S. currently has in effect for imports, their impact on consumer demand will be minimal. In some previous periods of high tariffs, Walsh said, the airline industry grew significantly. "Industries adapt.

4 days ago | travelweekly.com | Robert Silk

It's a backlog of 14 years at current production rates. The backlog is constraining industry growth and increasing the age of fleets, officials said during IATA's Annual General Meeting here. The industry's average aircraft age has increased from 13 years in 2015 to 15 years currently. This year, Boeing and Airbus had forecast 1,430 deliveries, according to airline industry data company Cirium, but through the first four months of the year they had delivered just 359 planes.

5 days ago | travelweekly.com | Robert Silk

Still, that will amount to just 0.7% of aviation fuel needs in 2025, the airline trade group says. Overall, IATA expects approximately 660 million gallons of SAF to be produced globally this year. Approximately 60% of that supply will be required for airlines in the U.K. and EU to meet SAF mandates that went into effect this year. Under both mandates, SAF must account for 2% of fuel supply this year.

5 days ago | travelweekly.com | Robert Silk

The carriers hope to launch the partnership early next year, with interline flight sales beginning late this year. Executives of the two carriers met to discuss the potential tie-up at the IATA Annual General meeting here. The partnership, should it come to fruition, would be the second for Southwest since it began searching for airline partners as part of an ongoing commercial transformation. Southwest began interlining with Icelandair in February.

5 days ago | travelweekly.com | Robert Silk

The trade group now projects global airline revenues of $979 billion this year, down from its forecast in December that the industry would realize revenue of $1 trillion for the first time. • Related: IATA industry forecast for 2024But revenue reductions will be almost entirely made up for by lower-than-projected fuel costs. IATA now expects a global fuel bill of $236 billion for airlines in 2025, with average jet fuel prices of $86 per barrel.