Airline News

Today’s airline loyalty programs are critical business drivers shaping both company profitability and traveler engagement. American Airlines is pioneering yet another frontier in loyalty through evolutions to its long-standing AAdvantage program.

The global airline industry navigated another turbulent year, marked by geopolitical shocks, shifting demand, and big strategic bets — yet it emerged highly profitable. From the softening of U.S. markets to the wave of post-bankruptcy success stories, 2025 delivered no shortage of plot twists. In this week’s feature story, we break down the most important industry trends and developments shaping the year just ended and ask the critical questions airlines face heading into 2026.

Airlines are under pressure to decarbonize, but now they’re pointing fingers at AI for stealing the clean energy they need. The question is whether policymakers will listen.

This pre-Christmas announcement ensures regulators won’t be easing into the holidays. It's a seasonal surprise that’s likely to turn silent nights into sleepless ones for some.

The policy is another sign that the economy is skewing toward the wealthy and away from the Middle Class.

If the bill passes Congress, it would remove a major bargaining chip that resulted in the end of the two longest government shutdowns in U.S. history.

Hauenstein played a pivotal role in Delta’s premium push, which has made Delta one of the most profitable airlines in the U.S.

As China makes more advances on flying taxis, the Trump administration is hoping it can speed up the U.S. effort. The biggest startups hope for a 2026 debut.

United rewrote its mobile boarding, disruption handling, and personalization by weaving AI throughout its app — not just layering on a chatbot. The real question is whether the automations will ultimately help smooth travel or, by introducing errors or hallucinations, add to the travel friction.

A merger would save Spirit from shutting down, but the combined companies would still face a tough environment for ultra-low-cost carriers.