Fears over China's economic growth are expected to hit airlines' profit
The trade body predicts airlines will make $18bn (£10.7bn) in profit in 2014, lower than its $18.7bn March forecast.
It blamed concerns over the Chinese economy's performance and a slowdown in world trade for the downgrade.
The industry faced "strong headwinds", IATA director general Tony Tyler said.
He said rising infrastructure costs, inefficiencies in air traffic management, a heavy tax burden and costly regulation were all expected to weigh on the airline industry this year.
IATA predicted that total revenues for airlines would reach $746bn in 2014.
"The brutal economic reality is we will earn an average net margin of just 2.4%," added Mr Tyler.
This would amount to less than $6 per passenger, he said.
IATA represents 240 airlines, which cover 84% of total air traffic.
Read the original article
