If IndiGo thought it had a clear path to fulfilling its growth ambitions, 2025 provided it with a series of reminders that the airline industry is not for the faint-hearted.
United chief Scott Kirby has suggested his carrier could overtake Delta Air Lines as the world’s top airline by revenue, citing the imminent retirement of Delta’s president Glen Hauenstein as a potential tipping point in the rivalry between the USA’s two dominant carriers.
Korean Air has flagged a series of possible headwinds this year – including increased geopolitical ‘volatility’ and softening outbound travel demand – even as it saw a “demand boom” in parts of its network.
The acquisition of AirAsia Group by sister operator AirAsia X is set to wrap up, with less than a week to go before the group is finally divested from parent company Capital A. The newly-enlarged group will have plenty on its plate to work on, including in fleet and network.
Delta Air Lines is gaining momentum alongside much-improved demand trends in early 2026, with company executives forecasting 5-7% year-on-year revenue growth in the first quarter.