阿拉斯加航空拟加入美国航空反垄断豁免合资公司
阿拉斯加航空与美国航空宣布，计划提议阿拉斯加加入美国航空的反垄断豁免跨大西洋与跨太平洋合资公司。美国航空的大西洋合资业务成立于2010年，与英国航空、伊比利亚航空、芬兰航空、爱尔兰航空和Level合作；太平洋合资业务与日本航空于2011年启动。两家公司预计未来数月向美国交通部及其他相关国际监管机构提交批准与反垄断豁免申请。阿拉斯加与美国航空已有合作，且同属寰宇一家联盟。
#航空
#航空
Today4itemsBusiness Travel NewsAI Rating7070 Skift FeedAI Rating5252 阿拉斯加航空增配高端经济舱与商务舱
阿拉斯加航空宣布在其波音787机队及部分由737 Max 10执飞的跨大陆航线上增加高端经济舱座位和商务舱套间，押注高消费旅客继续贡献行业主要利润。自2024年完成与夏威夷航空的合并后，该公司持续推进成为全方位服务国际承运人的战略，已从西雅图枢纽开通多条欧洲和亚洲航线，并于今年早些时候推出国际商务舱。与此同时，受西海岸业务比重较高影响，该公司受燃油价格飙升冲击尤为严重，CEO表示燃油成本抹去了上半年利润，并已暂停2026年业绩指引。
Skift FeedAI Rating6565 印度就借道新疆空域与中国谈判
由于巴基斯坦自2025年4月起对印度航空公司关闭领空，印度正与中国谈判，寻求允许印度飞机使用新疆上空空域，为飞往欧洲和北美的航班开辟新航路。印度民航部长表示，相关磋商已持续一年以上，正在考虑经和田的航线。
China Tourism NewsAI Rating2828 海南航空国庆预计运送旅客110万人次
9月29日，新海航海南航空发布消息称，为保障旅客国庆假期出行，计划执行境内外航班近6500班次，预计旅客运输量达110万人次。国内市场计划执行航班5800班次，国内航线旅客运输量约98万人次，运力重点向热门出行市场倾斜。针对10月3日至5日节中出行时段，计划执行国内航班2115班次，运力投放较2025年同期增长1.7%。国际市场方面，国际及地区航班预计执行582班次，同比增长2.4%；预计运送旅客10.3万人次，同比增长3%。市场呈现“短途火爆、长线复苏”格局，热门区域集中于东南亚、东亚、欧洲及澳新，奥斯陆、贝尔格莱德、巴黎等航线客流增长明显。
Skift Feed Air India Incoming CEO Tells Staff to Focus on Safety, Reliability and Profit
Air India's incoming CEO Tewolde Gebremariam told employees at his first company-wide townhall that after four years of getting bigger, the airline now needs to get better and more profitable. Gebremariam, former Ethiopian Airlines chief, is yet to formally assume the CEO and managing director role and is awaiting necessary regulatory approvals. Air India has spent the past four years rebuilding under Tata Group ownership, including a major aircraft order, fleet and product modernisation, technology upgrades, completing the Vistara merger and integrating other airlines.
China Tourism News Beijing Capital Airport Expects Over 1.66 Million Passengers During National Day Holiday
Beijing Capital International Airport expects to handle over 1.66 million passengers during the National Day holiday, averaging 237,000 per day, with 9,448 flights. Travel peaks fall on October 1 and October 7, each exceeding 245,000 passengers. From September 25 to October 7, over 3.03 million passengers are expected. The airport will add check-in and security counters, deploy more guides, and launch an international version of its integrated service platform and transit vouchers.
TravelDaily China Plaza Premium Group Wins Skytrax World's Best Airport Lounge Group for 10th Consecutive Year
On September 21, 2026, Plaza Premium Group received the "World's Best Airport Lounge Group" award at the Skytrax World Airline Awards in London, marking its 10th consecutive year of recognition since 2016. In addition, three Plaza Premium lounges—at Rome Fiumicino Airport, London Heathrow Airport and Dubai International Airport—ranked among Skytrax's top 10 "World's Best Independent Airport Lounges." Founder and CEO Song Haisi (Haisi Song) said the group pioneered the independent airport lounge concept 28 years ago, and the honor reflects passenger trust and the efforts of its global team. Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted also congratulated Plaza Premium on the decade-long achievement.
Skift Feed Virgin Atlantic CEO: Premium Demand 'Insatiable' as 787 Refit Cuts Economy Seats
Virgin Atlantic CEO Corneel Koster told Skift Global Forum that reconfiguring the fleet so premium seats nearly match economy is an investment, not a bet, calling premium demand 'insatiable' and saying the airline was 'underweight' in premium capacity for years. Refurbished 787 Dreamliners will cut economy from 192 to 127 seats while expanding premium. He cited UK-to-US demand up 7% year over year, corporate demand up 11% and cargo up 36%. Koster said the Delta partnership makes Virgin 'probably more Virgin than ever,' and warned that the UK sustainable aviation fuel mandate is rising while the fuel 'is just not available.'
Skift Feed Virgin Atlantic CEO: Don't Make Customers Pay More for SAF Without the Environmental Benefit
Virgin Atlantic CEO Corneel Koster said at the Skift Global Forum in New York that increasing mandates on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) while supply continues to lag is not tenable for the airline industry. He noted that the U.K. SAF mandate requires the fuel to make up 2% of the country's jet fuel demand, eventually rising to 22%, but there isn't enough SAF available.
Skift Feed Qatar Airways CEO on Integrated Systems and Disruption Resilience
Qatar Airways Group CEO Hamad Al-Khater, speaking at Skift Global Forum, recounted how Middle East conflict forced the airline to ground its entire fleet for six days. He said the integrated group model — airline, airport, ground handling, catering and cargo — enabled a faster recovery, with all 6,993 stranded passengers protected and sent home, on-time performance recovering to 86–87% versus peers at 70–75%, and July and August revenues level with the prior year. He also said the airline absorbed a 90% jet fuel cost increase rather than pass it on, and noted 75% of passengers now book within 60 days.
Skift Feed Alberta Courts Gulf Investment and Tourists as Etihad Launches Calgary Route
Travel Alberta is pursuing two things from the Gulf at once: high-spending leisure travelers and the capital and expertise to build niche resorts and attractions it currently lacks. Etihad will launch a direct Abu Dhabi-Calgary service next month, operating four times weekly. Jon Mamela, chief commercial officer of Travel Alberta, said the airline is "placing a significant bet on Alberta," indicating inherent interest and demand already exist in the market. Because the flight from Abu Dhabi is roughly 13 hours, Mamela suggests a minimum stay of seven days — ideally 10 to 14 — which is expected to push spend well above average. Top source-market spend is about C$1,100 to C$2,200 ($785 to $1,…
Skift Feed Turkish Airlines Orders Up to 150 Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft
Turkish Airlines has finalized a deal with Boeing for up to 150 737 MAX aircraft, comprising 100 firm 737-8s and options for 50 more, with substitution rights for the larger 737-10. It is the flag carrier's largest-ever Boeing narrowbody order and the first major fleet decision under new Chairman Murat Seker and CEO Ahmet Olmustur. No delivery timeline was disclosed.
Business Travel News American Airlines and Starlux Launch Codeshare Partnership
American Airlines and Starlux Airlines announced a codeshare partnership. American will place its code on Starlux-operated flights to Taipei Taoyuan International Airport from Los Angeles, Ontario (Calif.), San Francisco and Seattle-Tacoma, and plans to place its code on Starlux-operated Phoenix-Taipei flights pending regulatory approval. AAdvantage members can earn miles and points when booking an American codeshare operated by Starlux. Starlux passengers from Taipei can connect to 20 North American cities on American-operated flights on a single ticket with baggage checked through to final destinations. Flights are now available for booking for travel beginning Sept. 30.
China Tourism News Jiangxi Airlines Adds and Increases Flights for Mid-Autumn and National Day Holidays
During the 2026 Mid-Autumn and National Day holidays, Jiangxi Airlines added and increased multiple routes, with an average of 86 daily flights, up 7.5% year-on-year. Domestically, it added or increased routes from Nanchang to Hohhot, Beihai, Zhengzhou, Sanya, Qingdao, and Haikou. Internationally, the Nanchang-Kuala Lumpur route maintains four weekly flights since September. During the holidays, ticket bookings for domestic routes over 2,000 km increased 14% year-on-year, and the Nanchang-Kuala Lumpur route had a load factor above 90%.
China Tourism News CATA Aviation Conference Focuses on AI in Airline Service
The 4th China Air Transport Association (CATA) Aviation Conference, themed 'AI and Civil Aviation Integrated Development,' featured nearly 200 exhibitors. Airlines shared AI progress: China Eastern partnered with Qwen to enable one-sentence booking, seat selection and changes, and its transfer decision system cut batch rebooking time from 30 minutes to 5 minutes with an over-97% tight-transfer success rate; China Southern piloted AI check-in on international routes, cutting average check-in time per passenger from 3 minutes to under 1 minute, serving over 15,000 passengers, while its smart customer service handled 170,000 complaint cases, reducing average handling time from 3 days to 1.5 da…
China Tourism News Daxing Airport Hosts 925 Aviation Carnival and Launches Seven New Service Measures
On September 24, 2026, Beijing Daxing Airport hosted the '925 Aviation Carnival' and launched seven new service measures, including early check-in for international flights, one-day advance check-in for domestic flights, paperless boarding with ID, and easy security channels. During the event, Daxing Airport signed a memorandum of cooperation with Hainan's tourism department and launched a China-Russia aviation product. For the Mid-Autumn and National Day holidays, Daxing Airport expects over 11,000 flights and 1.79 million passengers, with daily averages up about 11% and 10% year-on-year.
Skift Feed Sierra and OpenAI's Taylor on AI's Broad Impact on Travel
Bret Taylor, founder of Sierra and chairman of OpenAI's board, said at Skift Global Forum that AI agents can already handle the entire journey — booking, pre-arrival, in-stay and post-stay — as one continuous conversation. He criticized companies that route customers between departments, saying shipping your org chart should never happen in the world of AI. Taylor said the difference between marketing and service is just who initiates the conversation, and that every company's agent will eventually handle booking, onboarding, cross-sell and service as a single interface. He also said over-constraining AI produces worse results, and companies should set goals and guardrails instead of script…
Skift Feed Qatar Airways CEO: Not Passing Fuel Costs to Customers Just Yet
Qatar Airways CEO Hamad Al-Khater said at the Skift Global Forum in New York City that the carrier is not ready to pass higher fuel costs on to customers, calling it an option of last resort because of the competitive landscape in the Middle East. He noted that fuel prices have surged again as attacks in the Iran war intensified, and that Qatar Airways, like other Middle Eastern carriers, has been hit hard by airspace closures in the region and a drop in demand.
Business Travel News U.S. DOT to Seek $30B More for Air Traffic System Funding
Citing a Reuters report, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a Washington speech that he would ask Congress to approve an additional $30 billion for air traffic control towers, software and digital upgrades and airport facility improvements. About $10 billion is dedicated to replacing aging ATC towers, $10 billion to telecom and other tech systems used by air traffic control, and $10 billion to airports including runways. The comments came a day after a Northeast telecom outage caused ground stops at Philadelphia, Newark and Teterboro airports and significant delays at LaGuardia and JFK. On Monday, Newark Liberty canceled 55 percent of departing and 49 percent of…
Business Travel News Qantas to Launch Nonstop Sydney-New York Flights in 2028
Qantas announced plans to launch the first nonstop commercial service between Sydney and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport in mid-2028, with tickets scheduled to go on sale in August 2027. Part of the carrier's ultra-long-haul Project Sunrise initiative, the route will be operated by Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft configured with 238 seats across four cabins and fitted with an additional fuel tank allowing up to 22 hours of nonstop flight. The new service will cut more than three hours from the current one-stop option, making the journey about 18 hours. Qantas has 12 of the planes on order, with the first scheduled for delivery in April. The first Project Sunrise route, Sydney-…
Business Travel News Condor Adds American Airlines as Interline Partner
Frankfurt-based Condor announced an interline agreement with American Airlines, effective immediately. Travelers from more than 150 cities served by American can connect to Condor's transatlantic gateways in Boston, New York JFK and Los Angeles; Chicago will be added in May 2027 when Condor launches Chicago-Frankfurt flights. Travelers can book the entire journey across both airlines on a single ticket with baggage checked through to final destinations. Condor also recently announced an interline partnership with Qantas.
China Tourism News Economic Achievement Photo Exhibition Opens at Chongqing Airport
On Sept 21, the "Chasing the 15th Five-Year Plan, Honoring the 14th" economic achievement news photo exhibition opened at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport's T3B terminal, running from Sept 21 to Oct 20. A total of 721 photos were collected, with 316 selected works and 25 outstanding photography pages from 62 association member units, organized into ten thematic sections. The exhibition is staged at the airport hub and open to passengers. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the airport completed T3B terminal and a fourth runway, forming a layout of three terminals, four runways and one satellite hall. This summer travel season, the airport handled 65,000 aircraft movements, up 8.9…
China Tourism News Malaysia Airlines Launches Shenzhen Themed Train to Promote Shenzhen-Kuala Lumpur Route
Malaysia Airlines launched a Shenzhen themed train on Shenzhen Metro Line 11 (Airport Express), with mascot 'Captain Pike' interacting with passengers and giving limited-edition dolls to 288 passengers; the campaign runs until 5 October. Malaysia Airlines began daily direct Shenzhen-Kuala Lumpur flights on 2 July, operated by Boeing 737-8 aircraft with 12 business and 162 economy seats. Combined with its Guangzhou and Hong Kong points, the airline offers Greater Bay Area travellers four daily flights to Kuala Lumpur, connecting via the Kuala Lumpur hub to over 70 destinations in Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and beyond.
China Tourism News Malaysia Airlines Launches Shenzhen Themed Train, Strengthens Greater Bay Area Network
Malaysia Airlines recently launched a "Malaysia Airlines Shenzhen Themed Train" on Shenzhen Metro Line 11 (Airport Line). The brand mascot "Captain Parker" interacted with over a thousand passengers and gave limited-edition dolls to 288 lucky passengers. From now until October 5, the public can ride the themed train (car No. 1135) and take photos at a Malaysia Airlines-themed A330neo cabin photo spot. On July 2, Malaysia Airlines officially launched a daily direct Shenzhen–Kuala Lumpur route operated by Boeing 737-8 aircraft, with 12 business class and 162 economy class seats. Combined with existing Guangzhou and Hong Kong points, Malaysia Airlines offers Greater Bay Area travelers four dai…
IATA Pressroom ICAO Council President to Open IATA Wings of Change Europe
IATA announced that ICAO Council President Toshiyuki Onuma will open Wings of Change Europe (WOCE) on 15 October in Brussels. The aeropolitical conference will address the geopolitical landscape, competitiveness, the EU policy agenda, passenger rights, airport legislation and safety, with confirmed speakers from the European Commission's DG MOVE and airline and airport CEOs. IATA said European aviation faces onerous regulation and high costs, and that global standards and industry-government cooperation are needed to improve competitiveness.
CATA CATA Air Logistics Forum Focuses on AI-Driven High-Quality Development
On September 18, the 3rd Air Logistics Development Forum, a core event of the 4th CATA Aviation Conference, was held at the China National Convention Center in Beijing under the theme 'AI-Driven High-Quality Development of Air Logistics.' The forum brought together industry regulators, airlines, airports, research institutes and technology companies to discuss AI applications and trends in air logistics. Wang Man, Assistant to the CATA Chairman, proposed balancing safety and intelligence, collaborative chain upgrading, and open global expansion. Wang Weijun, Deputy Director-General of the CAAC Transport Department, said the regulator will continue advancing cost reduction and quality improv…
CATA CATA Aviation Service Sub-Forum Focuses on AI-Enabled Passenger Travel
On the afternoon of September 18, the Aviation Service Sub-Forum of the 4th CATA Aviation Conference was held at the China National Convention Center Phase II in Beijing under the theme 'Smart Future, Better Travel — AI Empowering New Warmth in Civil Aviation Services,' with over 200 industry representatives attending. The forum released the group standard 'Civil Aviation Information System Development and Delivery Grading Part 1: Technical Requirements,' establishing lifecycle grading specifications for the first time. CATA Secretary-General Pan Yixin noted challenges in enterprise intelligent transformation including input-output balance, business fit, uneven talent resources and duplicat…
Pinchain Tourism 4th CATA Aviation Conference Focuses on AI Integration in Civil Aviation
The 4th China Air Transport Association (CATA) Aviation Conference, themed 'AI and Civil Aviation Integrated Development', was held in Beijing from 17 to 19 September, showcasing AI integration achievements. China Southern's aviation fuel cloud platform breaks data barriers among airlines, airports, fuel suppliers and financial institutions, covering 41 fuel nodes and connecting over 530 airports at home and abroad, helping China Southern save more than 230,000 tonnes of fuel in 2025. Hainan Airlines' big-data fault prediction platform has built over 1,600 prediction models and captured more than 200 potential fault risks. Air China Group's wheel maintenance line has been approved for opera…
CATA 4th CATA Aviation Conference Held in Beijing, Focusing on AI Integration in Civil Aviation
From September 17 to 19, the 4th CATA Aviation Conference was held at the China National Convention Center Phase II in Beijing, with over 230 organizations and representatives from nearly 20 countries and regions participating under the theme 'AI Integration in Civil Aviation.' Air China and Turkish Airlines discussed expanding codeshare cooperation, while TravelSky, Shanghai Airport, and the digital units of China Southern, China Eastern and Sichuan Airlines pursued cooperation on technology innovation and business collaboration. Leaders from ICAO, IATA, AAPA and AACO, as well as civil aviation authorities including CAAC, UAE GCAA, US FAA, Singapore CAAS and Cambodia SSCA, attended. A conc…
CATA CATA Aviation Conference cabin safety and service showcase held in Beijing
The fourth China Air Transport Association (CATA) Aviation Conference was held at the China National Convention Center Phase II in Beijing from 17 to 19 September. During the event, cabin safety and service culture showcases ran twice daily, with more than 80 cabin crew representatives from 20 airlines taking part across three segments: professional image, service brand and safety knowledge interaction. The safety segment demonstrated onboard lithium-battery emergency response and cabin-crew coordination standards, while the service segment featured dedicated products for elderly and child passengers and brands built around tea culture, regional culture and multilingual service. An on-site…
Skift Feed IndiGo Raises Ancillary Fees While Keeping Low Fares
IndiGo has raised fees for a range of optional services, including infant travel, excess baggage, unaccompanied minors, priority check-in and boarding, and travel certificates. Infant travel for children aged three days to two years without a separate seat now costs INR 3,000 ($31), up from INR 2,000 ($21). Domestic excess baggage rose to INR 800 ($8.3) per kilogram from INR 700 ($7.3). The domestic Fast Forward priority check-in and boarding service now costs INR 650 ($7), up from INR 450 ($5). The changes are modest in isolation but highlight a commercial lever for IndiGo as it enters the Willie Walsh era: monetizing passengers further without touching the low fares at the heart of its bu…
Web in Travel AirAsia Reaffirms Confidence in Its Business and Long-Term Strategy
AirAsia Group reaffirmed a focused and prudent approach to operational, financial and fleet management amid fuel volatility, cost pressures and shifting market dynamics. The group said its planned fundraising is primarily targeted at debt restructuring, refinancing and balance sheet consolidation rather than solely funding operational shortfalls. In the second quarter AirAsia recovered around 70% of fuel price increases through dynamic fares and lower non-fuel operating costs; it tactically cut capacity by 20-25% in the third quarter and is preparing to ramp back toward pre-war levels in the fourth quarter. The group has returned 25 older, less fuel-efficient aircraft and is accelerating it…
Pinchain Tourism Supersonic Airliner Technology Advances; Beijing to Shanghai Could Take Only Half an Hour
At the China Aeronautical Science and Technology Conference in Wuxi, Jiangsu, the 2026 major scientific and technological issues in aviation were released, with supersonic airliners in focus. NASA's X-59 has completed low-boom supersonic test flights, and China's Tianmushan Laboratory demonstrator plans a supersonic test flight by the end of this year, targeting a sonic boom under 80 decibels. Supersonic airliners face technical bottlenecks including long-duration supersonic endurance, engine fuel consumption, and sonic boom. Conventional airliners fly at about 900 km/h, while supersonic airliners need to reach 1.5 to 2.0 times the speed of sound. Industry estimates suggest at least 20 year…
Skift Feed US Ultra-Low-Cost Carriers Seek Jet Fuel Tax Holiday as Costs Soar
US ultra-low-cost carriers are renewing efforts through trade group Association of Value Airlines to engage lawmakers in Washington on relief from rising jet fuel prices via a tax holiday. The group represents Allegiant, Frontier Airlines, Avelo Air and Breeze Airways. Executive director Jonathon Freye said the group has contacted several congressional offices but has received no indication Congress would consider such a measure. Some airline executives expect more capacity cuts and higher fares.
Skift Feed Southwest Airlines Looks to New Lounges to Attract High-Spend Customers
Southwest Airlines CFO Tom Doxey said at the Morgan Stanley Laguna investor conference that the carrier expects loyalty benefits from lounges it plans to open next year, along with a premium credit card. He said a premium card can attract higher FICO score customers, increase top-of-wallet share and bring a more aspirational halo to the loyalty program and brand. Southwest announced earlier this month that it will launch its first four lounges in Austin, Baltimore, Nashville and other locations.
Skift Feed Thai Airways Expands Network Across Europe and Asia
Thai Airways announced it will expand its network across Europe and Asia, increasing flights to major European cities and adding services to Vietnam and China. Under its schedule running from October 2026 to March 2027, the carrier will operate 66 domestic and international routes. In Europe, Bangkok-Paris rises to 14 weekly flights, Zurich to 11 and Munich to 10, while Bangkok-Amsterdam operates seven times weekly. In Asia, it will launch twice-daily Bangkok-Da Nang flights.
Skift Feed Flydubai CEO Expects Pre-War Capacity by Year-End After Steep Decline
Flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market in Dubai that the carrier expects to fully restore its network and capacity to pre-conflict levels before the end of 2026, and even slightly more as it receives additional aircraft, though he noted the target is subject to many factors. The airline currently serves 130 of its pre-war 140 destinations, roughly 85% network recovery. OAG data in September showed flydubai posted the steepest seat-capacity decline among the top 10 Middle East airlines, down 18.3% year-on-year to 1.05 million seats. The carrier is investing in premium cabin retrofits to boost revenue now, while Boeing delays push its widebody plans to 20…
TravelDaily China Fliggy Subsidises 12% of Domestic Flight Refund Fees for Top Members
TravelDaily China reports Fliggy upgraded its domestic flight refund protection standard: for Fliggy F4, F5, F6 and all 88VIP members, refund fees on self-purchased domestic tickets booked via the Fliggy app or Taobao's Fliggy entry can get an 88% discount off the airline standard, i.e. Fliggy subsidises 12% of the fee. It applies to one-way direct, stopover, connecting and round-trip domestic itineraries, stacks with airline benefits, and gives five entitlements per person per calendar year deducted by flight segment. Public data shows Fliggy has over 500 million registered members and about 64 million 88VIP members. The China Air Transport Association says it is drafting a dedicated group…
Skift Feed United Still Expects to Pass On 100% of Jet Fuel Costs, Says Industry Is Turning More Premium
United Airlines CFO Michael Leskinen said at the Morgan Stanley Laguna investor conference that the carrier still expects to recover 100% of jet fuel costs by year-end despite a recent rapid rise in fuel prices. He noted about 35% of fourth-quarter tickets are already booked and cannot be repriced, creating a lag effect, but said customers are willing to pay more for premium seats and amenities like Starlink as the industry turns more premium.
Skift Feed American Airlines to Cut Capacity if Fuel Costs Stay High
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said at the Morgan Stanley Laguna investor conference that the carrier expects to make trade-offs on capacity if fuel prices stay elevated in the long term, with slower growth expected in 2027. He said that if fuel prices remain as high as they are now, adjustments to capacity planning will be required looking ahead. American CFO Devon May said at the same conference that the carrier would adjust capacity.