No, the airline industry is famously characterized by thin profit margins. In 2026, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) projects an average global net profit margin of approximately 3.9%. To put this in perspective, for every $100 in revenue generated, the average airline keeps less than $4.00 as profit. This is significantly lower than industries like software or luxury goods, which can see margins of 20% to 40%. In 2026, the profit per passenger is estimated at roughly $7.90, which barely covers the cost of a sandwich at an airport terminal. These slim margins are driven by massive fixed costs, including fuel (which typically accounts for 25–30% of expenses), labor, and aircraft leasing/maintenance. Even in a record-breaking 2026 travel year with 5.2 billion passengers, airlines must operate at high "load factors" (filling over 83% of seats) just to remain solvent and cover their cost of capital.