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IATA chief economist Marie Owens Thomsen says airline conditions could deteriorate if fuel prices remain elevated while consumers’ purchasing power declines. Carriers with stronger balance sheets are better positioned to withstand the pressure, but airlines have limited ability to offset higher costs by raising ticket prices.
IATA
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IATA chief economist Marie Owens Thomsen says airline conditions could deteriorate if fuel prices remain elevated while consumers’ purchasing power declines. Carriers with stronger balance sheets are better positioned to withstand the pressure, but airlines have limited ability to offset higher costs by raising ticket prices.
IATA Chief Economist Marie Owens Thomsen has criticized a European Commission proposal to extend the Emissions Trading System beyond the European Economic Area, calling it “self-empowered overreach.” She warned that the EU would “lose again” if it pursued the expansion.
ACI EUROPE, Amadeus, IATA, IDEMIA Public Security and SITA have formed a coalition urging EU policymakers to preserve voluntary, secure biometric travel services in the Digital Omnibus. The group says the framework should support smoother journeys while protecting passenger choice and privacy.
IATA’s World Safety and Operations Conference will examine how airlines can strengthen resilience as crises multiply and aviation becomes more dependent on sophisticated IT systems. The 2026 agenda also addresses AI and automation, emphasizing the training and human expertise needed to maintain safe operations.
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Global passenger demand rose 0.2% year over year in July 2026, while capacity increased 0.3% and the load factor slipped 0.1 percentage points to 85.2%. International traffic declined 0.1%, but excluding the Middle East, demand grew 1.5%; air cargo demand increased 3.9% across all regions.
IATA’s Board has named World Economic Forum executive Saadia Zahidi as Director General, effective Nov. 1, succeeding Willie Walsh, who steps down July 31. Zahidi becomes IATA’s first woman to lead the organization.
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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has named World Economic Forum managing director Saadia Zahidi as its next director general, effective Nov. 1. She will succeed Willie Walsh, who relinquishes the role on July 31, making Zahidi IATA’s first female director general and first since 1985 without airline executive experience.
The European Commission’s proposal would extend the EU ETS to cover airline emissions from flights within 5,000 km of the EEA, effectively adding Middle East and North Africa routes. IATA rejects the plan’s extraterritorial scope, while environmental groups and low-cost carriers raise concerns about pricing and competitiveness.
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