A new study conducted by consultancy firm Deloitte has found that global airline CEOs believe the greatest threat to growth and stability over the next three years is current economic and market conditions.
The Deloitte annual airline CEO survey, which included the participation of 32 global airline CEOs, found that half of the airline bosses selected economic and market conditions as the greatest threat, while 47% selected geopolitical instability as the greatest threat to their airlines.
The survey, which took place in early April, came just after US President Donald Trump introduced sweeping global tariffs on economies around the globe.
Deloitte noted that the survey might have been expected to surface apprehension over global trade, however tariffs appeared only on the margins of CEO concerns. Tariffs and pandemics were only a top concern of 10% and 3% of respondents, respectively.
“In this year’s survey, there is a theme: CEOs are doubling down on the fundamentals they can control,” says Bryan Terry, Aviation leader at Deloitte. “That means tightening cost structures, boosting operational reliability, and laying the groundwork for sustainable profitability and growth.”
The survey also asked participants what initiatives their airlines are prioritising to drive growth over the next 12-month period. The survey found that transformative technology – including the use of AI – was the top initiative, followed by revenue management.
Additionally, 67% of airline CEOs that participated noted that on-time performance is the most important initiative that is currently being prioritised to improve operational excellence over the next year.
The full report is accessible here.