Airlines

US airlines' fuel bill hits $6.5 bn; global profit outlook nearly halved

US airlines spent more than USD 6 billion on jet fuel in April, up 78 per cent from a year earlier despite using slightly less fuel, government data released Monday showed. Meanwhile, the airline industry's top global trade group warned that soaring energy costs could nearly halve profits in 2026. Since conflict erupted in the West Asia earlier this year after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, much of the shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz -- a critical oil transit route bordering Iran -- has remained effectively halted, pushing up the price of oil and jet fuel. In an effort to contain costs, airlines around the world have raised airfares and fees, cut other perks and cancelled flights or trimmed schedules. US carriers spent nearly USD 6.5 billion on fuel in April, compared with about USD 3.6 billion a year earlier, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Fuel consumption in April totalled 1.573 billion gallons, down slightly from 1.575 billion ...

European airlines expect gains to fade as Gulf carriers stage comeback

Airline executives sense their moment of opportunity will soon come to an end as Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways get more of their planes back into the air and increase capacity again

Govt fixes ATF benchmark prices: Will flight tickets get cheaper?

The government has fixed benchmark jet fuel prices for Indian airlines, but experts say the move may curb fare spikes rather than make tickets cheaper

Demand, fares may support H2 cash flow despite fuel shock: Alaska Air

Chief Financial Officer Shane Tackett said fuel markets had become less volatile in recent weeks, but prices were still moving by about 5% over a couple of days

Airlines urge OMCs to delay ATF rate hikes amid West Asia conflict

Indian airlines urge oil refiners to delay ATF price hikes for domestic flights amid rising losses triggered by the West Asia conflict

India's two largest aviation hubs cut ATF tax. How much can airlines gain?

Experts said lower ATF taxes at India's two biggest aviation hubs could improve airline operating economics and margins, though passengers may not see meaningful fare cuts immediately

Turkish Airlines plane tyre catches fire at Kathmandu airport, all safe

Aircraft with call sign TK726 was en route to Kathmandu from Istanbul, and the tyre had caught fire while landing; Using the fire engine, it has been contained, an official said

Air India terminated over 1,000 staff in 3 yrs for ethical breaches: CEO

Air India has terminated more than 1,000 staff in the last three years for ethical breaches, including those for misusing the employee leisure travel system, according to the airline's chief Campbell Wilson. Flagging that hundreds of employees are terminated every year due to non-compliance, Wilson has also emphasised that the staff need to act in the right way even when others are not looking. As Air India implements cost-saving measures amid significant financial headwinds, Wilson made the remarks during the town hall meeting with the staff on Friday, according to sources. Tata Group-owned Air India has around 24,000 employees now. The airline's CEO and MD said that over the past three years, "we have terminated more than 1,000 people for ethical breach" such as smuggling things off the plane and allowing excess baggage onto the aircraft without being charged. He also mentioned hundreds of staff who had misused the Employee Leisure Travel (ELT) system and added that such things

ECLGS 5.0: Top 3 airlines may get up to ₹1.5K cr each, says DFS secy

Credit facilities worth Rs 70,000-80,000 crore available with SBI for MSMEs under ECLGS scheme: SBI chairman

Best of BS Opinion: Credit guarantee scheme will help small businesses

Today's opinion wrap explores the economic fallout of the West Asia conflict, digital governance reforms, telecom disaster preparedness and the growing role of AI in policymaking

Airlines scramble to help stranded Spirit flyers after carrier collapses

Spirit Airlines ceased operations on Saturday following a doubling in jet fuel prices due to Iran war

Air India board to meet May 7; cost-saving steps, CEO selection on agenda

As headwinds persist for the loss-making Air India, its board is expected to discuss cost-saving plans, selection of the next CEO, financials, and other issues during the meeting scheduled for May 7, according to sources. Headwinds for the Air India Group, which is projected to have incurred more than Rs 22,000 crore loss in the financial year ended March 2026, have multiplied with the West Asia conflict. In the midst of an ambitious transformation plan, the Tata Group-owned airline is also scouting for a new CEO as incumbent and Singapore Airlines Group veteran Campbell Wilson will be stepping down later this year. The sources said the board, chaired by Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, will meet in Mumbai on May 7. Various cost-saving measures, CEO succession plans, financials for 2025-26 fiscal year as well as other issues are expected to be discussed during the meeting, the sources said. Tata Sons and Air India did not offer comments. As part of stringent measures to save

6 passengers injured evacuating from Swiss Air flight in India: Report

The incident occurred when one of the aircraft's engines failed and caught fire during the takeoff roll, prompting the crew to stop the aircraft and initiate an emergency evacuation

Foreign holiday? West Asia war heat burns hole in pocket this summer

While West Asia is out of bounds because of the war, high airfares to SE Asia are also a concern for travellers

Airlines in no hurry to move to Navi Mumbai airport, says Air India

Air India flags higher tariffs, poor connectivity, and dual-operation costs as hurdles to shifting flights to Navi Mumbai Airport, challenging expectations of rapid airline migration

How West Asia conflict impacted Indian airlines' international business

Even as Iran and the US have agreed to a ceasefire for the next two weeks, the West Asia conflict’s huge impact on India’s air carriers is evident

Pilots fear retribution over refusing to fly in West Asia: Aviators' group

Pilots from Lebanon to India have voiced 'widespread' concerns they could face sanctions if ​they do not fly in often unpredictable conditions where airspace can close with little notice

How West Asia conflict impacted Indian airlines' international business

West Asia conflict forces Indian airlines to cancel one in five international flights in March, sharply cutting capacity and disrupting operations across key routes

Govt keeps 60% free airline seat allocation directive in abeyance

Civil aviation ministry defers rule mandating 60% free seat selection after airlines flag concerns over fares, ancillary revenues and impact on deregulated pricing framework

Impossible to quantify war impact on airlines; airfares on rise: IATA

With sharp rise in fuel costs as well as tight capacity and thin margins for airlines, airfares are already rising in the wake of the Middle East war, global airlines' grouping IATA said on Tuesday. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) represents around 350 airlines, including Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, and SpiceJet. On Tuesday, the grouping released the data for global passenger demand in February 2026 and said total demand in terms of Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPK) rose 6.1 per cent last month compared to the year-ago period. Total capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK), increased 5.6 per cent year-on-year while the passenger load factor stood at 81.4 per cent, the highest February figure on record, it said in a release. IATA Director General Willie Walsh said with an RPK expansion of 6.1 per cent, February was a strong month, showing that the fundamentals for demand growth were in place for a positive year. "However, without knowing t