Latest analysis
ITA-Lufthansa tie-up consummates after months-long wait
Germany’s Lufthansa Group has completed its long-sought acquisition of Italian carrier ITA Airways, finalising on 17 January a two-fifths stake in the company.
Airline news digest: 11-17 January 2025
Our regular rundown of the biggest airline stories from the past seven days
China’s ‘Big Three’ see improvement in 2024 traffic, as financial results loom
Domestic traffic growth continued to drive recovery at China’s three largest carriers in 2024, even as international traffic moves closer to a full recovery.
Will Azul and Gol combine to create Brazilian airline giant?
Abra Group and Brazilian carrier Azul have entered a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore a combination that would create Brazil’s largest airline via a tie-up with Gol.
Southwest transformation continues with Icelandair as first partner
Southwest Airlines has signed a strategic partnership with Icelandair as the US low-cost carrier continues its transformation effort by shifting away from its long-standing strategic approach
JetBlue doubles down on Boston as it works to re-establish strong East Coast network
JetBlue Airways is progressing its plan to re-establish a strong leisure network on the East Coast of the USA, doubling down on Boston Logan International airport.
Cargo capacity on the up in 2024
Air cargo capacity grew by double-digit percentage levels last year, with bellyhold capacity continuing to recover and freighter space remaining above pre-Covid levels.
Delta rides ‘accelerating’ premium and international demand into 2025
In a year that saw the US airline industry shift increasingly toward first- and business-class customers and long-haul international flights, perhaps no airline was better positioned to reap the rewards than Delta Air Lines
Interviews
How Annalisa Gigante aims to put IAG at the forefront of airline innovation
Led for just over a year by Gigante, Hangar 51 recently completed its eighth annual accelerator programme with a confidence that innovation is central to the business’s ability to thrive
Breeze ahead of major discount carriers on ‘premium’ trend: Neeleman
While much of the US airline sector scrambles to add more premium seats and other products to attract higher-paying customers, one start-up carrier has been positioned since inception to capture that slice of the market.
Oneworld chief on future priorities for alliance after first 25 years
Chief executive Nat Pieper hopes to have all members plugged into its common digital platform by the end of next year, which will help drive the grouping’s mission to meet passengers’ travel expectations
Avianca chief declares Colombian carrier’s business transformation complete
Competing with low-cost carriers remains a critical area of focus, chief executive Frederico Pedreira tells Airline Business. ‘But we also have customers that want to pay more’
Kownatzki sees growing SunExpress thriving on path less travelled
While it is maybe questionable the extent to which airlines have built back better since the pandemic, fast-growing leisure carrier SunExpress can point to gains from taking a different approach going forward
Opinion
‘Not my job’ is not a valid option for airlines on the net-zero journey
If airline leaders openly disagree with the industry’s net-zero pathway, it risks discrediting current initiatives, argues SimpliFlying’s Shashank Nigam
Airlines end 2024 navigating more uncertainties
As the year comes to an end, airlines face more uncertainty around the impact of external factors on performance, writes Ctaira analyst Chris Tarry
Is Trump’s election a setback for airline sustainability efforts?
A second term for Donald Trump is likely to complicate the net-zero journey for airlines. Whether or not the reality turns out better than the rhetoric, the industry has lots to lose by failing to uphold its environmental commitments
Airlines must keep the fundamentals in mind
Basic economics suggest fares will continue to fall in many markets while costs are unlikely to follow suit, writes CTAIRA’s Chris Tarry
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