Visualized: IATA: Airlines Set for Record $41B Profit in 2026

Dec 17, 2025 3:53 PM

EST

DALLAS — Global airline profitability is stabilizing, not surging, according to IATA’s latest industry outlook.

The trade group forecasts US$41.0 billion in net profit in 2026, up from US$39.5 billion in 2025, while the net profit margin holds steady at 3.9%—a reminder that even “record” earnings still translate into relatively slim returns for an industry that moves billions of people each year.

IATA projects total revenues of $1.053 trillion in 2026, supported by demand growth that pushes passenger volumes to 5.2 billion and keeps aircraft remarkably full, with a record 83.8% passenger load factor.

The visualizations below break down what’s driving the outlook—how profits and margins have evolved since 2022, where revenue is coming from (passenger vs. cargo vs. ancillary), and which regions are expected to contribute the most net profit in 2026.

IATA: Profitability Stabilizes Into 2026

Industry Statistics (updated 12/2025) • 2026F outlook

2026F net profit

$41.0B

2026F net margin

3.9%

2026F revenues

$1.053T

2026F passenger load factor

83.8%

IATA’s latest outlook points to steady profitability in 2026 alongside record-high passenger load factors and continued cost pressure from labor and supply-chain constraints.

Profitability Trend

Net profit ($B) and net margin (%) • 2022–2026F

Net profit (USD billions) Net margin (%)

Revenue Mix

Passenger vs Cargo vs Ancillary/Other • 2022–2026F

Passenger Cargo Ancillary & other

Demand & Utilization

Passengers (millions), flights (millions), and passenger load factor (%)

Passengers (M) Flights (M) Passenger load factor (%)

Regional Snapshot

2026F net profit (USD billions) by region

Europe and North America lead in absolute profits, while Middle East stands out on margin (see EBIT% in the IATA tables).