Airlines Set for Record Profit Despite Hobbled US Economy

Global airlines stand to earn a record $41 billion next year, with Europe contributing the biggest profit share as US carriers grapple with fallout from tariffs, tighter immigration enforcement and a lengthy government shutdown.

An estimated 5.2 billion passengers will take to the skies, the International Air Transport Association said Tuesday in its annual forecast. While industry profit is expected to reach a new high, the inflow is being held back by persistent supply chain issues, heightened geopolitical tensions, regulatory costs and infrastructure constraints, it said.