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• Paul Ash
Air India will begin mandatory screening of all pilots for prohibited substances and medications after a captain involved in the Aug. 4 Phuket–Delhi mid-air incident reportedly tested positive for marijuana. The move exceeds India’s existing requirement for airlines to randomly test at least 10% of flight crew annually, as government scrutiny intensifies.
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Philippine Airlines swung from a $136.7 million first-half 2025 profit to a $25.1 million loss in 2026 as fuel costs rose amid the Middle East conflict. Pegasus also reported a loss amid weaker international traffic, while winning Turkish approval to acquire Smartwings.
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Air India will begin mandatory screening of all pilots for prohibited substances and medications after a captain involved in the Aug. 4 Phuket–Delhi mid-air incident reportedly tested positive for marijuana. The move exceeds India’s existing requirement for airlines to randomly test at least 10% of flight crew annually, as government scrutiny intensifies.
SunExpress is considering speeding up the retirement of its Boeing 737-800s as persistently high fuel prices increase the operating-cost disadvantage of older, less fuel-efficient aircraft. The potential shift underscores continued pressure on airlines to renew fleets and manage exposure to fuel costs.
China Eastern Airlines says it has spent $148 million repurchasing its own shares, providing a limited but material signal of capital-allocation priorities at one of China’s major airlines. The available report does not disclose the number of shares bought or the program’s timing.
American Airlines is reorganizing its senior management, expanding oversight across commercial and operations functions and appointing a former Spirit Airlines executive to lead technical operations. The changes come as CEO Robert Isom seeks to improve the carrier’s profitability relative to its major competitors.
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American Airlines is expanding the responsibilities of some executives as CEO Robert Isom seeks to improve profitability and narrow what he describes as a meaningful performance gap with competitors. The changes signal a broader effort to align leadership accountability with the carrier’s financial and competitive priorities.
TUI Group reported lower revenue and profitability in its latest quarter as the Iran conflict affected customer behavior, raised fuel-cost pressure and left cruise ships stranded. The German travel group said airline and broader summer booking trends remained resilient, offering some offset to the disruption.
SunExpress is consolidating its services under a single brand, a move that will simplify how the airline presents its offering to customers and the market. The announcement signals a change in the carrier’s commercial organization and brand strategy, although the available reporting provides no further operational details.
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