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Airline News Digest: 14-20 February 2026
Our regular rundown of the biggest airline stories from the past seven days.
And then there were none: Jetstar Japan divestment is final nail in coffin for Qantas’ heady Asia expansion
As Qantas prepares to report is half-year earnings, the airline group’s refocusing of strategy to its core Australian market is expected to be under the spotlight.
Air France-KLM relaxed on transatlantic trends amid strong premium demand
Air France-KLM’s full-year earnings call saw the group’s executives present a positive assessment of 2025 and the year to come, as they cited the business’s focus on “premium” cabins as a boon.
Air Canada highlights revenue diversity in positive outlook for 2026
Air Canada executives cite continued momentum from a bright end to last year for optimism of a positive year to come
Airline news digest: 7-13 February 2026
Our regular rundown of the biggest airline stories from the past seven days.
Comfortable in its own skin, Norwegian optimistic on prospects for 2026
Norwegian’s renaissance continues apace, with another set of strong earnings figures capping a year in which its pre-Covid struggles vanished from the rear-view mirror.
Heilbron confident on demand as Copa steps up capacity in 2026
Copa Airlines chief executive Pedro Heilbron believes the airline will benefit from catching-up on lost opportunities resulting from delayed deliveries as it is set for double-digit capacity growth this year.
Singapore air show: Few orders but growth still on the horizon
Aircraft orders at the 2026 edition of the Singapore air show in early February were far and few – compared especially with the 2024 edition – and those announced were deals already committed to in the months leading up to the event.
Interviews
Why Emirates is adding an A350 service to Gatwick as it eyes further UK growth
Emirates will begin operating a fourth daily flight to Gatwick airport, bringing its Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-powered Airbus A350-900 jets to the West Sussex facility for the first time.
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.
Opinion
Branding the third space: How airlines are redefining the middle market
Airlines might have a lot to gain by offering elevated but attainable products to a willing customer base, argues Conran Design Group’s Ludwig Duran
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
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