New York Times
• Mark Kahan
Airline loyalty programs and co-branded credit cards are reshaping competition while potentially harming consumers, according to the article summary. The issue raises questions about how rewards economics influence airline market power, customer choice and competitive dynamics.
Airline Industry & Market Trends
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Airline loyalty programs and co-branded credit cards are reshaping competition while potentially harming consumers, according to the article summary. The issue raises questions about how rewards economics influence airline market power, customer choice and competitive dynamics.
Vietnam Airlines has deployed $179 million raised through its 2025 share proceeds, according to ch-aviation. The report highlights a significant capital deployment by the flag carrier, though the available information does not specify how the funds were allocated.
Lufthansa’s supervisory board chairman says the airline has lost ground to rivals, partly because of self-inflicted problems, and may need a more forceful turnaround effort. The warning adds pressure on management to address the group’s flagging performance and restore competitiveness.
Volotea plans to reduce its fleet from 44 aircraft to between 30 and 35 as it cuts costs while negotiating revised debt payment terms. The Spanish carrier is also eliminating about 50 positions at its Barcelona headquarters, though it has not identified which bases may be affected.
Jet-fuel prices have doubled since January, and analysts warn that the market may not have peaked. The increase threatens to raise airlines’ operating costs, intensify pressure on fares and margins, and complicate planning as carriers assess the potential for further fuel-price escalation.
Swiss plans to reduce its reliance on wet-leased aircraft and crews while retaining its ACMI partnership with Helvetic Airways. The approach signals a shift toward greater in-house operating capability without fully abandoning the flexibility provided by outsourced capacity.
Executives from American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines used Morgan Stanley’s Laguna conference to discuss where they see the airline market heading, offering a cross-section of views from three major U.S. carriers on industry conditions and the outlook ahead.
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Qantas plans to begin nonstop Sydney–New York passenger flights in mid-2028, establishing the second route in its Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul program. The service would replace the airline’s current one-stop New York option via Auckland and become the first scheduled nonstop passenger link between Australia and New York.
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