Finance
Aviation leaders tackle industrial and geopolitical headwinds
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on February 2, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 2, 2026
Quick Summary
Aviation leaders address growth and geopolitical challenges at the Singapore Airshow, focusing on emissions and supply chain issues.
Aviation Executives Address Growth Challenges and Geopolitical Issues
Challenges Facing the Aviation Industry
By Julie Zhu and Tim Hepher
Impact of Geopolitical Changes
SINGAPORE, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Aviation leaders tackled barriers to growth and the impact of geopolitical tensions on the eve of the Singapore Airshow on Monday, while reaffirming pledges to reduce emissions.
Supply Chain Disruptions
Supply chain problems are hurting global airlines and will remain for some time to come, the head of the International Air Transport Association warned industry leaders and regulators.
Projected Growth in Air Travel
"This disruption continues to have a major impact," IATA Director General Willie Walsh said at the Changi Aviation Summit, ahead of Asia's largest air show.
The aviation industry is also navigating geopolitical changes including U.S. import tariffs that have upended flows of air freight.
"I think the impact of geopolitical change was much more obvious on the air cargo side of the business than on the passenger side," Walsh said.
Air cargo shipments between Asia and North America slipped 0.8% last year in the first such decline for some time, while volumes between Europe and Asia increased by 10.3%, he added.
The Asia-Pacific region is the world's fastest-growing region for air travel, propelled by China and India, with passenger traffic growth of 7.3% projected for 2026.
Toshiyuki Onuma, president of the governing council of the International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations' aviation body, warned aviation would struggle to keep up with projected growth without coordinated action.
"A system built for 4 billion passengers cannot support three times that number without transformation," he said.
(Reporting by Julie Zhu and Tim Hepher; Editing by Jamie Freed)
Key Takeaways
- •Aviation leaders discuss growth and geopolitical challenges.
- •Supply chain disruptions continue to impact airlines globally.
- •Geopolitical changes affect air cargo more than passenger travel.
- •Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region for air travel.
- •Coordinated action is needed to support projected passenger growth.
Frequently Asked Questions about Aviation leaders tackle industrial and geopolitical headwinds
1What is air cargo?
Air cargo refers to the transportation of goods and products via aircraft, which is a crucial part of global trade and logistics.
2What is the International Air Transport Association (IATA)?
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is a trade association for the world's airlines, representing approximately 290 airlines and working to promote safe, efficient air travel.