Airline retailing realities in 2026: challenges and progress

A PhocusWire article based on a white paper by LeapShift and Airline Information examines the state of airline retailing in 2026. Airlines face rising fuel costs and are increasing ancillary fees like baggage fees. However, legacy infrastructure, fragmented systems, and reliance on tech vendors hinder retail transformation. The survey shows about 30% of airlines rate modern airline retailing initiatives as good, while over 40% say they need improvement. For NDC, nearly 40% rate it good, over 44% say needs improvement. About 70% do not use an order management system.