IATA Director General Willie Walsh on airline profits, air fares and why the Dublin Airport passenger cap makes Ireland a laughing stock

This week host Ciarán Hancock is joined by Willie Walsh, the director general of IATA, the Geneva-based representative group for the airline industry.

Willie will be known to you as the Irish man who was a high-profile chief executive of both Aer Lingus and British Airways.

He then became head of IAG, which is the parent group to both of those airlines plus some Spanish carriers, including Iberia.

He’s now in charge of IATA, with his contract set to run until 2027.

You’ll hear Willie talk about airline profits and whether air fares are likely to go up or down in the near term.

He spoke about aviation’s role in reducing harmful carbon emissions and the chances of a climate-friendly biofuel being developed for commercial use.

He gives his view on why emerging markets such as India and burgeoning economies in Africa are entitled to grow their airline industries and passenger traffic as they become wealthier.

He also expresses his frustrations with the inefficient way air traffic control is managed in Europe.

And Willie explains why, in his view, Ireland has become something of a laughing stock on the international stage over the legal battles being fought around the Dublin Airport passenger cap. In his view, this is hindering growth here and jeopardising foreign direct investment. 

And the 63-year-old talks about his plans for retirement, which could include Italian wine. 

Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound.

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