Jet delivery delays may slow airlines’ recovery as travel demand exceeds capacity: Iata – The National

Jet delivery delays may slow airlines’ recovery as travel demand exceeds capacity: Iata – The National

Continuing delays in the delivery of jets by plane makers may be a factor putting pressure on the pandemic-hit airline industry's recovery at a time when travel demand is rebounding, the head of the world's biggest airline trade body has said.

Production problems at Boeing that resulted in the suspension of deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus dispute with Qatar Airways that has halted deliveries of its A350 have left airlines with less capacity to meet growing demand for travel, said Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association.

“It will slow down the recovery but that does not necessarily mean it's a bad thing for airlines because what you're going to get is a potential supply and demand imbalance because it's clear demand is strong,” he said.