Rising Costs, Supply Strains: Airlines Face New Challenges

Key Points

• North American airlines face rising costs, supply chain strains, and weakening demand, partly due to tariffs and economic uncertainty.
• Most U.S. carriers have reduced or withdrawn 2025 guidance, while major European airlines remain optimistic with unchanged outlooks.
• Aircraft manufacturers like GE Aerospace and RTX expect significant financial losses from tariffs and are employing cost-cutting and price hikes to mitigate the impact.

Summary

The article examines the mounting challenges facing the airline industry in 2025, including rising operational costs, worsening supply chain issues, and weakening demand, especially in North America. Economic uncertainty and the imposition of tariffs have led most U.S. airlines to lower or withhold their annual forecasts, while European carriers remain more optimistic. Meanwhile, aviation manufacturers such as GE Aerospace and RTX are incurring substantial tariff-related costs and are implementing strategies to offset these financial impacts.