IATA Director-General Willie Walsh comments on Middle East hostilities, highlighting uncertainty for traffic and fuel costs and warning of continued pressure on global air cargo supply chains.
Director-General highlights uncertainty and safety obligations
Commenting on the latest developments in the Middle East, IATA Director-General Willie Walsh said recent events have introduced uncertainty into the evolution of traffic and fuel costs.
He expressed hope for an early peaceful resolution to the current hostilities and emphasised that states must respect their obligation to keep civilians and civil aviation free from harm.
Cargo resilience to be tested
Addressing the cargo market, Walsh noted that air cargo demand recorded a 5.6% year-on-year increase in January 2026, marking a robust start to the year
He cautioned, however, that the resilience of the cargo sector will continue to be tested in the coming months. In addition to the long-running uncertainties surrounding evolving US trade policies, the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East is expected to weigh on global supply chains
According to Walsh, these issues will add importance to discussions at the upcoming World Cargo Symposium in Lima, Peru, from 10–12 March 2026. A key focus of the event will be strengthening air cargo’s adaptability and efficiency through digitalisation and other measures
IATA’s latest data show that, alongside the growth in demand, capacity increased by 3.6% year-on-year in January
SOURCE: IATA IMAGE: @WAN
