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Profits Soar: IATA Revises Airline Profitability Outlook

Our Bureau - : Jun 6, 2023 - : 11:13 am

Airline industry net profits are expected to reach US$9.8 billion in 2023 (1.2% net profit margin). This is more than double the December 2022 forecast of US$4.7 billion, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

In an upgrade of its outlook for 2022, IATA said that airline industry operating profits are expected to reach US $22.4 billion in 2023, much improved over the December forecast of a US$3.2 billion operating profit. It is also more than double the US $10.1 billion operating profit estimated for 2022.

About 4.35 billion people are expected to travel in 2023, which is close to the 4.54 billion who flew in 2019. Cargo volumes are expected to be 57.8 million tonnes, which has slipped below the 61.5 million tonnes carried in 2019 with a sharp slowing of international trade volumes.

Total revenues are expected to grow 9.7% year over year to $803 billion. This is the first time that industry revenues will top the $800 billion mark since 2019 ($838 billion). Expense growth is expected to be contained to an 8.1% annual increase.

“Airline financial performance in 2023 is beating expectations. Stronger profitability is supported by several positive developments. China lifted COVID-19 restrictions earlier in the year than anticipated. Cargo revenues remain above pre-pandemic levels even though volumes have not. And, on the cost side, there is some relief. Jet fuel prices, although still high, have moderated over the first half of the year,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

The return to net profitability, even with a 1.2% net profit margin, is a major achievement. First, it was achieved at a time of significant economic uncertainties. And second, it follows the deepest losses in aviation’s history (US$183.3 billion of net losses for 2020-2022 (inclusive) for an average net profit margin of -11.3% over that period). It should be noted that the airline industry entered the COVID-19 crisis at the end of a historic profit streak that saw an average net profit margin of 4.2% for the 2015-2019 period. 

“Economic uncertainties have not dampened the desire to travel, even as ticket prices absorbed elevated fuel costs. After deep COVID-19 losses, even a net profit margin of 1.2% is something to celebrate! But with airlines just making $2.25 per passenger on average, repairing damaged balance sheets and providing investors with sustainable returns on their capital will continue to be a challenge for many airlines,” said Walsh.   

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