IATA Chief Economist Brian Pearce has reported at a meeting in Geneva that domestic air travel in China and that in and between other emerging markets showed the strongest growth in 2019.

The Asia - USA trans-pacific market had the lowest growth, reflecting USA-China trade tensions.

Airline profit margins have been declining since 2016, but now seem to have stabilized at around 50% of what they were 3-4 years ago.

Pearce predicted that slightly stronger economic growth and stable fuel prices should keep 2020 growth in air travel close to this year's 4.1%, following 9 consecutive years of 5.5%+ growth that ended in 2018.