Aviation profit per passenger too low to buy hot dog at stadium, IATA says

The global aviation industry’s projected per-passenger profit is so small that it would not even cover the cost of a hot dog at most World Cup stadiums, Marie Owens Thomsen, International Air Transport Association (IATA) Senior Vice President for Sustainability has stated.

Speaking at a press conference during the 82nd IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit in Rio de Janeiro, she said the aviation sector’s profitability remains significantly lower than that of the financial services and oil and gas industries, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

According to her, the industry’s net margin has historically not exceeded 5%.

She made it clear that a 2% margin corresponds to roughly $23 billion in global profit—an amount comparable, in some years, to the quarterly earnings of a major oil company.

She also highlighted rising costs, stating that fuel expenses are now expected to account for 31% of total industry costs in 2026, up from earlier projections of 27%.

Dividing projected global profits by total passenger numbers, she stressed that the industry earns about $4.50 per passenger.

“We often compare this amount to what it could buy. For example, this amount wouldn't even buy a hot dog at most World Cup stadiums,” Thomsen said.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov