Airlines are expected to have a more profitable year than previously forecast.
The International Air Transport Association says airlines will make nearly $US13 billion this year, $US2 billion more than it orginally forecast in March.
Margins are expected to remain very thin at around 1.2%, but the profit figures put 2013 as the third strongest year for the airlines since 9/11 in 2001.
IATA released the figures at its annual conference in South Africa.
