According to Scott Kirby, chief executive of United Airlines, the United States is in a "business recession" but the consumer is "strong". This can be seen as leisure air travellers come back stronger and faster than business travellers. U.S. economic growth slowed more than expected in the first quarter as an acceleration in consumer spending was offset by businesses liquidating inventories in anticipation of weaker demand later this year.
Global airlines forecast profits to more than double in 2023 buoyed by strong travel demand, but warn of challenges such as supply chain disruptions and a talent crunch. Kirby said that airlines will not be able to operate as they did pre-pandemic due to supply chain disruptions and a talent crunch.
The chief of the world's biggest airline, Kirby, has raised concerns over competing carriers flying over Russia. Russia has barred U.S. airlines and other foreign carriers from flying over its airspace, in retaliation for Washington banning Russian flights over the U.S. in March 2022. United Airlines was forced to temporarily suspend flying over Russian airspace, which has impacted the airline's ability to offer competitive non-stop flights to India and other places.
Air India and some Gulf-based, Chinese, and African carriers continue to fly over Russian airspace, making flying times shorter. However, newly approved flights for Chinese airlines are avoiding flying over Russian airspace to and from the United States.