While improving, 2021 promises to be another disastrous year for airlines globally. According to forecasts pitted today by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the sector will record net losses of $ 47.7 billion in 2021 (net profit margin of -10.4%). This is an improvement on the red of 126.4 billion reported in 2020 (net profit margin of -33.9%).
“This crisis is longer and deeper than anyone could have expected – commented Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA – The losses will decrease from 2020, but the pain of the crisis increases. There is optimism in domestic markets, where typical aviation resilience is demonstrated by rebounds in markets with no internal travel restrictions. Government-imposed travel restrictions, however, continue to dampen strong demand for international travel. Despite an estimated 2.4 billion people who will travel by plane in 2021, airlines will burn another 81 billion dollars ”.