RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP) — Airlines expect to carry more passengers this year but earn only half as much profit as in 2025, as high fuel prices don’t appear to be fully deterring travel, according to projections published Sunday.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicted its 370 member airlines, which account for 85 per cent of global air traffic, will carry 5.1 billion passengers this year.

That is up 2.4 per cent from 2025, when passenger traffic was estimated to have reached 4.98 billion. The four billion mark was surpassed in 2023.