Latest analysis
IndiGo seeks to move on from challenging 2025
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 targets revenue leadership as Delta’s commercial architect prepares to retire
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 warns of increased competition, geopolitical ‘volatility’ in 2026
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.
As divestment nears completion, AirAsia talks up plans for next phase
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 forecasts strong 2026 as demand for air travel rebounds
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.
Allegiant and Sun Country’s proposed combination builds off shared DNA
After years of separately developing similar business models, Allegiant and Sun Country have revealed intentions to combine under the Allegiant brand name.
Airline news digest: 3-9 January 2026
Our regular rundown of the biggest airline stories from the past seven days.
How TUI Airline is seeking to leverage unified and commercialised operation
TUI Airline is moving on from the task of consolidating its airline units to focusing on tackling some of the fresh competitive dynamics and opportunities that exist in Europe today.
Interviews
How Saudia is transforming its business while growing to meet tourism demand
Commercial chief Arved von zur Muehlen outlines moves to transform the legacy carrier in tandem with the opening up of the kingdom to tourists
Neves focuses on network and frequency as Etihad gets back on growth path
Etihad Airways chief executive Antonoaldo Neves is steering the Abu Dhabi carrier into a growth phase with a strategy focused on boosting frequencies rather than dots on the route map
EgyptAir chief readies carrier for growth amid airport investment and tourism ambitions
Capt Ahmed Adel is positioning the North African carrier to play a crucial role as Egypt’s government invests in aviation infrastructure and seeks to double tourist traffic
LATAM chief Roberto Alvo focuses on fleet renewal as SAF remains elusive
LATAM’s chief executive believes that fleet renewal – and shoring up current-generation engine technologies – is the most viable path to boosting the efficiency of airline operations anytime soon.
Abra Group bolsters position in Latin America with ambitious fleet, IPO plans
Hot on the heels on Abra Group revealing plans to become a publicly traded company on the US stock market, the Latin American airline company has disclosed a major addition to its Airbus aircraft orderbook.
Opinion
Is the airline industry’s new-found ‘resilience’ actually just peak premium demand?
It might be the case that strong demand for the expensive seats among travel-hungry leisure passengers is a structural change in the post-Covid era. But there are clear risks in going all-in on that assumption
Is the airline industry at a point of inflection?
Some regions face a changed revenue environment amid slow GDP growth and stubborn inflation, writes CTAIRA analyst Chris Tarry
How Trump administration’s actions are weighing on airline traffic from Canada and Mexico
Demand for air travel to the USA from neighbouring countries has slumped amid trade tensions, divisive rhetoric from the US president and concerns over economies, exposing the industry’s vulnerability to forces outside its control
Downside risks still centre stage for airlines
Lower fuel is helping profit levels but a mixed revenue picture is more instructive as airlines plan for next year, writes CTAIRA analyst Chris Tarry
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