Airways will make much less revenue flying a passenger throughout continents than Apple earns from promoting an iPhone cowl, Worldwide Air Transport Affiliation (IATA) director normal Willie Walsh mentioned on Tuesday, underlining the business’s persistently weak margins, PTI reported.Releasing the worldwide aviation business’s monetary outlook for 2026, IATA projected whole web earnings at $41 billion subsequent yr, however mentioned returns at an business stage stay disproportionately low in contrast with the worth airways generate for the worldwide financial system. Internet revenue per passenger is estimated at $7.90 in 2026, unchanged from 2025 and decrease than the $8.50 recorded in 2023.“Trade-level margins are nonetheless a pittance contemplating the worth that airways create by connecting individuals and economies,” Walsh mentioned, mentioning that aviation underpins practically 4 per cent of world financial exercise and helps about 87 million jobs. “But Apple will earn extra promoting an iPhone cowl than the $7.90 airways will make transporting the common passenger.”Walsh additionally mentioned margins throughout the aviation worth chain stay uneven, with airways lagging far behind engine makers, avionics companies and a number of other service suppliers. The sector continues to face headwinds together with provide chain disruptions, plane supply delays and geopolitical uncertainty, IATA famous.Gas effectivity features in 2026 are anticipated to be restricted to about 1 per cent, as manufacturing bottlenecks sluggish fleet renewal and push the common age of business plane past 15 years, the airline physique mentioned, warning that these constraints will proceed to cap profitability regardless of regular demand.