Trade tensions and plane delivery delays challenge airline growth

Reuters
Reuters

Global airline growth faces major hurdles from rising trade barriers and ongoing plane delivery delays amid record passenger numbers.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned that escalating trade tensions and “unacceptable” aircraft delivery delays threaten the airline industry's growth and the wider economy. Despite record passenger traffic post-pandemic, airlines are frustrated by prolonged supply chain bottlenecks and delayed plane deliveries, with scheduled deliveries for 2025 down 26% from last year’s promises. IATA urged governments to exclude aerospace from trade wars and criticized energy firms for slow progress on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), key to the sector’s net-zero emissions goal by 2050.

Major carriers like Emirates and flyadeal have voiced strong frustration over delays, calling for more transparency and accountability from manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus, both struggling with production issues. Meanwhile, airlines such as Air India are still pursuing large aircraft orders to meet future demand.

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