Latest analysis
Kenya Airways grapples with 787 groundings and end of SAA tie-up ambitions
When Kenya Airways announced its first full-year net profit in more than a decade for 2024, it could have been a turning point. But the first half of 2025 put it on to the back foot
Airline News Digest: 30 August - 5 September 2025
Our regular rundown of the biggest airline stories from the past seven days
Virgin Australia sees ‘focused’ growth ahead as profits improve
Virgin Australia will remain “focused” in its near-term growth strategy, as it improves its annual earnings and warns of rising costs.
Spirit Airlines suffers eroding edge as major carriers exploit low-cost strategies
The ultra-low-cost carrier faces intensifying competition as larger airlines co-opt its business model, and Spirit struggles with fleet issues and weak leisure demand.
Airline News Digest: 23-29 August 2025
Our regular rundown of the biggest airline stories from the past seven days.
Qantas’ record profit meets cautious sentiment – and a promise to ‘deliver’
Qantas Group posted its second highest annual profit, but it remains modest about the achievement, focusing instead on its goal of “delivering” for its customers.
Air New Zealand plays the long game as near-term challenges drag on
Air New Zealand has acknowledged there is “no quick fix” in resolving its current “operational complexities” – chief among them the long-drawn engine reliability issues on its narrowbody and widebody fleet.
Korean Air’s simplification act gathers pace with record aircraft buy
Korean Air’s strategy of simplification in the long-term is gathering pace, after the carrier placed a record order for more than 100 Boeing aircraft.
Interviews
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.
Chai Eamsiri on rebuilding – and ‘renovating’ – Thai Airways as a source of pride
With the chapter of business rehabilitation now closed, Thai Airways International chief executive Chai Eamsiri is focused on building – and sustaining – the airline’s next stage of growth
Copa’s decades of discipline paying off under long-serving chief Pedro Heilbron
Pedro Heilbron admits that, at this point, the secret to Copa Airlines’ success is “somewhat boring”, since the Panama-based carrier keeps repeating tried-and-true strategies that it has employed for years.
Connect Airlines chief still aiming to fix ‘broken’ US regional model
More than two years after Connect Airlines’ US FAA certification process hit a pause, founder John Thomas remains committed to rethinking what he calls the “broken model” for regional flying in the USA.
How Pieter Elbers is pressing ahead with IndiGo’s bold global ambitions
Nearly three years after taking the helm of IndiGo, airline chief Elbers is now overseeing its largest expansion to date, with a massive orderbook and lofty international expansion plans.
Opinion
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
Airlines must deal with the real world
Recent events show the speed with which things can change in the sector – and the risks of over-optimism, writes CTAIRA analyst Chris Tarry
Busting the airline demand management myths
Sustainability policies that do not reflect the reality of growth trends worldwide risk ‘carbon colonialism’, writes SimpliFlying’s Shashank Nigam
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