High oil prices and constraints on jet fuel refining capacity in the Middle East will cause an “inevitable” increase in air ticket prices, says Willie Walsh, Director General, IATA. He also predicted that Gulf carriers and the region’s hubs would recover quickly once stability returns.
He said, “When things stabilise, they will stimulate demand over the hubs by aggressive pricing to get people flying through there again.”
While Walsh acknowledged that some European carriers had taken steps to redeploy capacity that would normally serve the Middle East to other destinations in Asia, the effect remains marginal, he said. Gulf carriers represent about 9.5% of global capacity, and European carriers around 26.5%.
With over 17 years of experience in the B2B travel and hospitality sector, she brings deep insight into travel trade dynamics, industry challenges and market developments. She holds an MA in English Literature and a Diploma in Journalism from the Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai, which underpin her strong editorial expertise. An avid nature enthusiast, she prefers outdoor and adventure-led travel, including hiking and trekking.