Shocking stat: Airlines to earn just $7.90 per passenger next year — less than what Apple makes on an iPhone cover, says IATA chief

Airlines will make less profit flying a passenger across continents than Apple earns from selling an iPhone cover, International Air Transport Association (IATA) director general Willie Walsh said on Tuesday, underlining the industry’s persistently weak margins, PTI reported.

Releasing the global aviation industry’s financial outlook for 2026, IATA projected total net profits at $41 billion next year, but said returns at an industry level remain disproportionately low compared with the value airlines generate for the global economy. Net profit per passenger is estimated at $7.90 in 2026, unchanged from 2025 and lower than the $8.50 recorded in 2023.