Global aviation’s unbalanced outlook

The outlook for global aviation is largely positive - traffic is growing, profits are stable and cost growth is largely manageable thanks to relief on fuel prices. While things are positive for the industry in aggregate, it is a much different story region-to-region.

• North America is beset with uncertainty thanks to the radical revision to a century of US trade policy, keeping traffic growth subdued and profits in stasis.

• European airlines are more confident about traffic growth, although they face their own issues when it comes to regulation, sustainability and infrastructure efficiency.

• Latin America has gone through a round of rapid traffic growth and airlines consolidation, but challenges around liberalisation and regulation are impediments to regional profitability.

• Asia Pacific travel continues to surge even in the face of persistent challenges around liberalisation, infrastructure congestion, competition, aircraft availability and MRO capacity.

• Middle East airlines remain vulnerable to externalities and political interference, with a series of regional conflicts playing havoc with operations and finances in the region.

• Africa leads the world in terms of traffic growth, however its airlines face challenges around liberalisation, scale and limited availability of new aircraft, which is exacerbated by intense competition from airlines outside the region.

This panel will convene leaders of airlines from aviation's different regions to provide insight on the character and challenges that their regions provide.