Skift
• Gordon Smith
Korean Air, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, ANA and Singapore Airlines faced the same sharp fuel-cost pressure in the second quarter, but produced markedly different outcomes. Their varied responses highlight how fleet mix, network exposure, pricing power and financial resilience shape airline performance during an operating-cost shock.
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India’s Akasa Air has signed a sale-and-leaseback agreement covering seven Boeing 737-8 aircraft, adding a fleet-financing transaction to the carrier’s expansion strategy. The deal highlights the role of leasing structures in supporting fleet growth while preserving airline capital flexibility.
Japan’s two largest airlines will coordinate flight schedules on the Tokyo Haneda–Okayama route from late October, marking their first domestic schedule-coordination agreement. The move is part of efforts to maintain a more sustainable domestic network, with both carriers leaving open broader future cooperation, including with competitors.
Korean Air, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, ANA and Singapore Airlines faced the same sharp fuel-cost pressure in the second quarter, but produced markedly different outcomes. Their varied responses highlight how fleet mix, network exposure, pricing power and financial resilience shape airline performance during an operating-cost shock.
South Korean startup Parata Air has secured regulatory approval to operate scheduled service between Seoul Incheon and Los Angeles International. The Yangyang-based carrier plans to launch the long-haul route around April 2027, adding a new entrant to the South Korea–U.S. market.
Air New Zealand will appoint former Air India CEO and managing director Campbell Wilson and former CFO Robert McDonald as directors. The appointments take effect Sept. 24, when Air New Zealand holds its annual shareholders’ meeting, bringing two former airline executives into its boardroom.
Fiji Airways has secured parliamentary approval for a FJD200 million (US$90.5 million) government guarantee supporting additional borrowing. The carrier is facing liquidity pressure and elevated fuel costs, making the state-backed financing an important measure to shore up its financial position.
High activity
SAS will resume nonstop Copenhagen–Mumbai service on Oct. 1, 2026, ending a 17-year absence from India. The airline plans five year-round weekly flights using a 266-seat Airbus A330, restoring direct passenger and cargo connectivity between Scandinavia and Mumbai after an aborted June launch caused by unresolved regulatory authorization.
Berkshire Hathaway increased its Delta Air Lines holding by 44% during the second quarter, ending June with 57.3 million shares valued at approximately $5.4 billion. The move materially expands the conglomerate’s exposure to one of the largest U.S. network carriers.
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