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Airline news digest: 1-7 November
Our regular rundown of the biggest airline stories from the past seven days.
Spirit’s network cuts open doors for rival ULCCs Frontier and Allegiant
As a major competitor’s struggles cause it to enact sweeping fleet and network cuts, a pair of ultra-low-cost carriers – Frontier Airlines and Allegiant Air – are capitalising on the opportunity.
Turkish Airlines seeks to leverage Air Europa’s Latin America presence
Turkish Airlines explained the rationale for its move to take a minority stake in Spanish operator Air Europa as it outlined its third-quarter earnings on 7 November.
Flyadeal boss on why Michael O’Leary might quibble with his LCC business model
The chief executive of Saudi Arabian budget airline Flyadeal describes how low-cost purists such as the outspoken Ryanair boss might react to his decision to diversify from the carrier’s bread-and-butter domestic market into long-haul and other segments.
Air Canada turns profit despite labour pressure on Q3 earnings
A crippling Air Canada flight attendants’ union strike that forced a complete operational shutdown across the carrier’s network in August suppressed the carrier’s third-quarter earnings by about three percentage points.
Air France-KLM reflects on what might have been after ‘mixed’ summer
Air France-KLM faced a series of headwinds during the third quarter, in a three months that could have looked better on paper given the favourable comparisons provided by the negative demand impact of the Paris Olympics on the same period of 2024.
IndiGo keeps focus on international push after steeper losses
IndiGo will double down on its “growth efforts” in the second half of its fiscal year – with a “disproportionate” focus on international expansion – after it widened its losses on the back of a sharp increase in foreign exchange costs.
Lufthansa Group gets operations in order as attention turns to efficiencies
Chief executive Carsten Spohr explains in an earnings call that the group has overcome the operational challenges that had weighed on the performance of its passenger airlines business in the post-Covid period.
Interviews
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.
GetJet founder targets €1bn revenues by 2030 through ACMI, asset management and MRO expansion
GetJet Aviation founder and chairman Alex Celiadin has quietly built a highly profitable ACMI and charter business for which he is targeting €1 billion revenues by 2030.
MRO Japan eyes steady growth amid near-term opportunities
As it turns 10, MRO Japan – majority owned by ANA Holdings – eyes opportunities in freighter conversions and end-of-lease checks, but intends to grow slow and steady.
CEO Levy acknowledges start-up Avelo ‘can’t win’ head-to-head matchups with major US carriers
Low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines is taking a ”contrarian approach” to fleet strategy by ordering smaller Embraer E195-E2 jets while most US carriers continue to upgauge with larger aircraft.
Avianca Cargo expands vision with strengthened partnership in Mexico
Bogota-based Avianca Cargo is entering a new growth phase with an expanding Airbus A330 freighter fleet and the establishment of Avianca Cargo Mexico, strengthening its position across Latin American markets.
Opinion
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
Why ecosystems are key to building SAF supply
Focusing on single technologies or projects is unlikely to generate the much-needed rapid expansion of production, writes SimpliFlying’s Shashank Nigam
Is this the smartest tool airlines are not using?
Post-booking flexibility can offer a largely untapped solution to managing through the capacity shortfall, writes Volantio chief executive Azim Barodawala
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