As one of the passengers, I found airlines have once again demonstrated their resilience through yet more challenging times in the third quarter of 2025. And airlines - not without considerable work and sacrifice - have survived. But it would be naive and even dangerous to assume the world's airlines are immune to all operational challenges that are thrown against them. I can still remember the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Senior Vice President Sustainability & Chief Economist Marie Owens Thomsen is very fond of pointing out that most airlines are “resilient but lack of robustness." (https://www.iata.org)
As a former Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Academy Senior Manager of Management Development, I know the AITA is a trade association founded in 1945 to promote safe, secure, and sustainable air transport. It represents some 300 airlines globally, comprising about 94% of international scheduled air traffic, and serves as a forum for cooperation and development of regulations and procedures for airline industry. IATA's headquarters are in Montreal, Canada.
I totally agree with Thomsen that it's a critical point when, even in the best of days, airlines collectively scrape together tiny, single-digit net margins. This makes profitability and survivability extremely precarious. I learned two things most threaten the already weak robustness of airlines worldwide. They are not wars, crashes, fluctuating oil prices or even economic downturn concerns. Trade wars, tit-for-tat high tariffs will do more to sink demand for air cargo & passenger seats. Another culprit, is the passenger who won't tolerate a fair & reasonable ticket price and who expects highly-expensive perks in the air.
Last week I flew return flight to Jakarta with my family aboard Malaysia Aviation Group's (MAG) airlines. We experience the airline's hallmark Malaysian Hospitality (MH) that brings together comfort and exclusivity in the skies. It is the flag carrier of Malaysia and we like the level of service and flight safety. (www.malaysiaaviationgroup.com.my)
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