FlightGlobal
• Graham Rapier
American, United and Southwest are trimming marginal routes as jet fuel prices remain near record levels, while Air Canada is adjusting capacity and pricing. The moves come as resilient demand supports bookings, but travelers are already facing fares nearly 25% higher than a year ago.
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American, Delta and United are backing Airlines for America’s request that two Air China services linked to Xi Jinping’s planned U.S. visit be treated as charters rather than scheduled flights. The group argues access to Russian airspace creates a competitive imbalance for U.S. carriers operating China routes.
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American, United and Southwest are trimming marginal routes as jet fuel prices remain near record levels, while Air Canada is adjusting capacity and pricing. The moves come as resilient demand supports bookings, but travelers are already facing fares nearly 25% higher than a year ago.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has issued a “sincere and unreserved” apology more than a week after comparing full-service competitors including British Airways and Aer Lingus to rapists over their higher airfares, drawing renewed attention to the airline’s combative executive communications.
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Delta will operate more than 200 daily departures from Los Angeles International Airport in summer 2027, adding two routes and frequency across seven markets. Separately, the airline plans to establish an Airbus A350 base at Minneapolis–St. Paul in early 2027, potentially supporting seasonal long-haul growth.
Jet fuel prices in parts of the US have climbed back near their most expensive level since hostilities linked to the Iran war began. The renewed increase threatens to intensify cost pressure for airlines and travelers after prices previously moved sharply lower.
IndiGo CEO Willie Walsh is weighing a regional fleet renewal and a strategy to establish Delhi as an Asia gateway capable of competing with Middle Eastern hubs. The moves would mark the first major strategic priorities outlined since Walsh took over the Indian carrier several weeks ago.
Leisure operator Corendon Airlines Group will reduce its fleet from 30 aircraft to 21 this winter, a cut of nearly one-third attributed to high fuel costs. The move underscores the pressure elevated operating expenses are placing on leisure carriers’ capacity and fleet planning.
Air France’s investment in premium service, including caviar and champagne, is helping the Paris-based carrier withstand the fallout from the Iran war, CEO Ben Smith told Reuters. The comments suggest the airline’s luxury-focused strategy is contributing to resilience amid geopolitical disruption.
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