International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General Willie Walsh thinks people need to calm down about the airline industry's operational challenges. While he acknowledges the "technical challenges" across the industry, Mr Walsh says recent disruptions in Europe have been isolated and limited to specific regions. He adds that the airline industry's current challenges are insignificant compared to the challenges of the last two years.

IATA's Director General says current issues facing the airline industry are not so bad

At the IATA annual general meeting in Doha this week, multiple airline CEOs flagged problems they had in their day-to-day operations, particularly regarding certain European airports. Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker spoke of his airline's significant recent issues at London Heathrow. Emirates President Tim Clark rated his airline's external challenges at nine out of ten.

Rising fuel prices, inflation, problems at Airbus and Boeing, and labor shortages worry airline CEOs worldwide. Overwhelmed airports, long queues, a lack of capacity, and increasing ticket prices are causing problems for passengers. But IATA's Director General rates the industry's external challenges at a three or four out of ten, calling them business as usual issues.

"There are a number of headwinds coming in our direction all at the same time. But a lot of these are headwinds that we've seen before, and we know how to deal with them. I'm very confident the industry will be able to overcome these challenges."

Mr Walsh adds the recent disruptions passengers and airlines have experienced are not widespread.

"It's not every airport; it's not every airline; it's not every day of the week; it's not every week of the year. I don't expect the disruptions to continue, and it is important to reflect that not every airport or every airline is facing challenges, and not every flight is being disrupted. So let's just relax. Yes, we've had some challenges, but it's not everywhere, and we will see our way through."

Labor shortages at airports are behind many day-to-day issues for airlines

Labor shortages at many airlines and airports are behind many of the day-to-day operational issues impacting passengers and generating adverse headlines. Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport (AMS) is cutting capacity this summer because the airport cannot cope with the number of flights scheduled. An unimpressed Qatar Airways CEO told journalists London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) tried to cancel A380 flights at the last minute. Frantic negotiations saw Qatar Airways able to fly passengers in on certain flights but depart empty.

"We recognize that some airports are struggling to regain their (operational) capacity as demand has increased significantly faster than most people anticipated. Some airlines are struggling because I think they were hoping to recover staffing levels quicker than they've been able to do," said Mr Walsh.

IATA's Director-General says he's taken 58 flights this year. He adds he's only experienced one significant disruption so far at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). Mr Walsh said the failure of the passport control system caused that disruption. He also added this was not the airline or airport's fault.

Qatar Airways CEO has a different view from Willie Walsh on industry challenges

Airline CEOs and IATA's Director-General are quick to point out the challenges facing airports, and the flow-on impacts on airlines and their passengers are not the airline's fault. IATA argues it's not up to them to tell airport operators how to run their businesses. But airline CEOs like Akbar Al Baker are growing weary of passengers blaming the airline for problems originating at airports.

While Willie Walsh is cautiously optimistic that there will be minimal disruptions this summer. Mr Al Baker is less so. The Qatar Airways CEO questioned the ability of many airports to handle the current amount of flights scheduled. That limits the ability of airlines to offer additional services and ease capacity problems.

"If you look at our departures out of Europe and the US, there is a massive difference (compared to pre-pandemic levels) because of a shortage of staff to handle our aircraft. This will be a very big challenge in the coming months," said the Qatar Airways CEO