Airlines pledge to stabilise rocky recovery

Global airlines wrapped up an annual summit on Tuesday by pledging to overcome operational problems that have marred the industry's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic such as labour shortages in airports. The IATA comprising almost 300 airlines sought to put into perspective the furore over recent airport and holiday chaos and tempered plans to boost capacity as the battered sector tries to solve staff shortages since air travel collapsed during the pandemic. "Let's relax a little; yes, we have challenges, but it is not everywhere," IATA DG Willie Walsh said, adding that the industry would be able to see its way through recent problems. He was speaking to reporters as airlines concluded a three-day Doha meeting marked by a sharper than expected recovery of air travel that caught airports and many planners by surprise. Walsh suggested that labour shortages can be managed and had not affected the entire industry. "There are certain airlines and airports. It's not widespread across the world. It's not every airport. It's not every day of the week. It's not every week of the year," Walsh said. "I think that some of the airlines have decided to adjust capacity going forward to reflect the fact that they may not be able to recruit people as fast."<br/>