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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is projecting the net profits of airlines worldwide to be $41 billion in 2026 and is ranking the Middle East as the region to lead the world in profit per passenger and overall margin.
IATA disclosed that the regional airlines would make about $28.90 per passenger in 2025, which would result in a total net profit of $6.6 billion at a margin of 9.3 percent. The margin for 2026 is also expected to be close to that of 2025, with profit per passenger going down slightly to $28.60 and total net profit increasing to $6.8 billion.
IATA chief Willie Walsh, during a speech at the organization's Global Media Day in Geneva, linked the region's performance to the region's orientation for long-haul travel, strong demand for premium services, efficient infrastructure, and regulatory harmony across airports and airlines.
He called the Middle East "an excellent model for other parts of the world to learn from" as he stressed its ability to combine high efficiency with market demand, especially in the segments of long-haul and premium travel.
The forecast is a clear indication of how the Gulf's air transport network is becoming more resilient, which is led by the infrastructure investment, the rising tourism and business travel, and the smart positioning. This period could be one of the most profitable years worldwide for the carriers with the Middle East as a leading player.
That leads to a media environment where meaningful voices are under-represented, nuance gets lost, and the heritage or future potential of the region is rarely given its due.
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