IATA AGM 2026: Oil price spike due to Middle East conflict sees airline profitability halve

Lee Hayhurst avatar

The conflict in the Middle East has seen a halving of airline profitability, according to the latest data from global industry body IATA.

Latest numbers released at the organisation’s AGM in Rio de Janeiro, forecast global annual net profit for the sector of $23 billion in 2026, down from $45 billion in 2025.

Willie Walsh, IATA’s outgoing director general said net profit per passenger is now so low it won’t be enough to buy a hot dog at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in the US.

The war on Iran and resulting hike in fuel prices has seen an aviation

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