<h1>Airline profitability remains tiny: industry net profit per passenger projected at USD 7.90 for 2026.</h1> IATA projects a 2026 industry net profit of USD 41 billion and a net profit per passenger of USD 7.90, unchanged from 2025, noting that margins are minimal relative to the sector's economic contribution and are uneven across the air transport value chain. Persistent supply chain disruptions, aircraft delivery delays, geopolitical uncertainty, and limited fuel-efficiency gains are identified as constraining fleet renewal and keeping average aircraft age above 15 years.