The number of passengers carried by world airlines is expected to top the 3.5 billion mark for the first time this year.

Passenger growth for 2015 is expected to be 6.75%, an improvement on the 6.0% growth last year, the International Air Transport Association (Iata) said.

It added that global airlines were expected to make a net profit of 29.3 billion dollars (just under £19.2 billion) in 2015.

For European carriers Iata is forecasting a collective profit of 5.8 billion dollars (just under £3.8 billion) in 2015. It added that the prospects for European airlines had improved slowly over the last two years.

This was particularly true for airlines serving the North Atlantic, with these routes looking set to continue generating decent returns.

Total direct employment in the aviation sector is expected to reach 2.5 million this year – up 3.1% on 2014.

Iata director general and chief executive Tony Tyler said: 'For the airline business, 2015 is turning out to be a positive year.

'Since the tragic events of September 2001, the global airline industry has transformed itself with major gains in efficiency. This is clearly evident in the expected record-high passenger load factor of 80.2% for this year. The result is a hard-earned 4% average net profit margin.'

Source: Business-Reporter