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Qantas Group unveiled (27-Aug-2026) a new business suite for its A321XLR fleet, bringing a lie-flat bed to a Qantas single-aisle aircraft for the first time. The suites are designed to transform the travel experience on longer routes including transcontinental services to and from Perth, as well as on short and medium haul international routes. The suites are arranged in a 1-1 configuration in an angled herringbone layout, a first for a Qantas single-aisle aircraft. Each offers a 19 inch entertainment screen, wireless and USB-C charging, free WiFi and storage. The first of 16 A321XLRs configured with the business suites is scheduled to arrive in 2028. Qantas also announced an evolved business suite product for its additional Boeing 787-9s on order, with 42 suites on each aircraft to feature a sliding privacy door for the first time on a Qantas Dreamliner. The product featues 80-inch lie-flat beds, a 19-inch screen and restyled personal storage space. [more - original PR]

Qantas Group reported (27-Aug-2026) Group Domestic total unit revenue (TRASK) is expected to increase by approximately 8% to 10% year-on-year in H1FY2027, with Group International TRASK expected to increase by 8% to 10% over the same period. The guidance is aligned with the Group's current fuel outlook. The Group reported travel demand "remains resilient as customers continue to prirotise travel", with international demand across Qantas Airways and Jetstar Airways remaining strong, supported by customers redirecting travel away from the Middle East. The Group stated jet fuel prices are expected to remain elevated in H1FY2027 and costs are expected to reach approximately AUD3.6 billion (USD2.59 billion). Qantas Loyalty is projected to "continue providing earnings resilience", with underlying EBIT forecast to grow by 5% to 7% in FY2027. The segment continues to be on track for its 2030 target of AUD800 million (USD574.51 million) to AUD1 billion (USD718.14 million) in underlying EBIT. Entry into service (EIS) costs for new aircraft are expected to be approximately AUD165 million (USD118.49 million) in FY2027 - AUD15 million (USD10.77 million) higher than FY2026. This includes increased EIS activity for Qantas International, with the introduction of the first A350-1000 ULR aircraft. [more - original PR]

Qantas Group reported (27-Aug-2026) an underlying profit before tax of AUD2.1 billion (USD1.5 billion) for the 12 months ended 30-Jun-2026, a decline of AUD330 million (USD237 million) year-on-year. Statutory profit after tax declined AUD316 million (USD226.9 million) to AUD1.3 billion (USD933.6 million), with the net impact of conflict in the Middle East rising to AUD420 million (USD301.6 million). Additional highlights include:

  • Group Domestic:
    • Qantas Airways and Jetstar Airways continued to see "strong travel demand and strong revenue across the domestic market for the majority" of FY2026, with Group Domestic recording AUD1.4 billion (USD1 billion) in underlying EBIT despite "impact of significantly higher fuel costs";
    • Qantas Domestic revenue increased 5%, supported by a 3% increase in capacity;
    • Fleet renewal accelerated with the A321XLR entering into service and seven of the aircraft in operation. The A220 fleet grew to 12 aircraft. The new aircraft, alongside almost all of Qantas' existing Boeing 737s, have been fitted with Qantas Economy Plus seating, which will be introduced to the A330 in Sep-2026. QantasLink is also refurbishing its existing A320 and A319 fleets, with mid-life Embraer E190 aircraft arriving "in the coming months" to replace the Fokker F100 fleet;
    • Jetstar Domestic increased earnings by 15%, supported by an 11% increase in revenue from a 4% increase in capacity. "Record" passenger numbers helped drive "strong load factors, ancillary revenue and yield". The fleet grew to 25 A321LRs and five A320neo aircraft through Jun-2026, with these next generation aircraft now making up almost half of narrowbody fleet capacity;
  • Group International:
    • Strong demand for international travel continued, with Qantas and Jetstar adding capacity and increasing unit revenue. "Significantly" higher fuel costs saw Group international underlying EBIT decline to AUD650 million (USD466.8 million);
    • Qantas International revenue increased 8%, supported by a 7% increase in capacity. Demand for services to Europe surged, with the carrier adding nearly 16,000 seats in Q4FY2026 through redeploying aircraft from other parts of its network. The result was underpinned by "strong premium cabin demand" and the performance of the 787 fleet on long haul routes which "continues to provide confidence ahead of the launch of Project Sunrise". Premium cabin revenue increased 15% - twice the rate of economy;
    • Jetstar International "continued to perform strongly" with 11% capacity growth driving "record passenger numbers" and increasing revenue by 14%. The arrival of additional narrowbody aircraft enabled the launch of nine new international routes and the redeployment of 787s, including on the carrier's recently launched Melbourne Tullamarine-Colombo service;
    • Jetstar Asia ceased operations in Jul-2025, with the Group to also divest its minority shareholding in Jetstar Japan. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of Jun-2027;
    • Fleet renewal continues with the first A350-1000ULR scheduled to arrive in Apr-2027 and the first nonstop Sydney-London flight to operate in Oct-2027. In addition to 12 Project Sunrise aircraft, the Group has firm orders for 12 A350s and 12 787s. The first of the additional 787s are scheduled to begin arriving in FY2028 with the next evolution of the airline's business seats including more space, sliding privacy doors and larger entertainment screens;
    • The Group confirmed discussions with Airbus and Boeing regarding converting approximately 20 of its existing purchase right options to firm orders from 2030. The A380 will "now be gradually phased out of the fleet from calendar year 2028".

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson stated: "In the first half, Qantas and Jetstar were both performing strongly, with demand growing across the domestic and international networks. Our new aircraft allowed us to add capacity and open new routes, which helped us to increase revenue", continuing: "Qantas continued to see growth at the premium end of the market while Jetstar went from strength to strength and continued to deliver value... [highlighting] the benefits of our dual brand strategy". Ms Hudson added: "The final four months of the year saw business and consumer confidence fall as the conflict and economic headwinds created uncertainty... In response to the surge in fuel prices, we quickly adjusted fares and capacity and redeployed aircraft to give customers more options to fly to Europe. These actions, along with other mitigations, limited the net impact on earnings to AUD420 million, despite a AUD610 million (USD438.1 million) increase in our fuel bill". [more - original PR]

easyJet reported (25-Aug-2026) its number of cabin crew over the age of 50 has more than doubled (up 127%) since launching its initiative to recruit older workers in 2022, with over 60s almost quadrupling in numbers. The LCC reported 12% of its cabin crew are over the age of 50, ahead of a new recruitment drive for cabin crew roles across the UK scheduled to open in Sep-2026. [more - original PR]

Background

easyJet launched its "Returnship" programme to encourage over 50s, career changers and those seeking to "unretire" into cabin crew roles, including online information sessions and training at its London Gatwick centre.1 It also appointed long serving cabin crew member Pam Clark as its over 45s recruitment ambassador, after a 2022 campaign targeting older entrants and reporting increases in over 45s and over 60s.2 Separately, easyJet launched "Flight Paths" to target 18 to 24 year olds not in education, employment or training, as part of plans to add nearly 1000 cabin crew recruits in 2026.3

Air India received (21-Aug-2026) approval from India's Government to expand implementation of its new cargo transshipment policy, which "allows eligible cargo shipments to remain securely packed during transit, eliminating the need for piece-level re-screening and significantly reducing connection times and handling requirements", to eligible shipments originating from Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai and connecting via Delhi to Copenhagen, Frankfurt and London Heathrow. Air India implemented the policy on a trial basis on the Chennai-Delhi-Frankfurt air cargo corridor on 20-Jun-2026, and recorded a more than 100% increase in average cargo volumes per day and a reduction in the average cargo connection time at Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport from 36-48 hours to five to eight hours. Air India head of cargo Ramesh Mamidala stated: "This reformed cargo transshipment policy has the potential to be a game-changer for India's air cargo sector", adding: "By enabling seamless cargo transfers through Delhi, it can help attract transit traffic that currently moves through foreign gateways, unlock additional cargo volumes for Air India, and significantly improve aircraft belly utilisation across our expanding network". [more - original PR]

Background

Air India partnered with cargo.one, enabling freight forwarders to quote and book general cargo up to 2500kg on its international services between India and markets including Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Zurich, New York, San Francisco and Tokyo.1 Air India also completed its first airport-to-door international cargo delivery, moving six tonnes of pharmaceuticals from Delhi to Brussels via Paris CDG.2

Bratislava M R Stefanik Airport recorded (24-Aug-2026) its three millionth passenger of 2026, achieving a record high and surpassing its entire 2025 annual total of 2.4 million passengers. CEO Dušan Novota attributed the growth to a "wider range of regular flights and high passenger interest in flights from Bratislava". The airport forecasts over four million passengers for 2026. [more - original PR - Slovak]

Background

Bratislava M R Stefanik Airport posted successive monthly passenger records in 2026, including 398,639 in May (+131% YoY), 510,152 in Jun (+81%) and 619,902 in Jul (+73%).1 2 3 It handled 2.6 million passengers in 7M2026 (+108% YoY), with Barcelona, London and Rome among the most popular destinations.3 CEO Dušan Novota linked earlier record growth to Wizz Air opening a Bratislava base and higher carrier frequencies.1

Most Read News Headlines

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Christchurch International Airport announced (19-Aug-2026) United Airlines plans to commence San Francisco-Christchurch service with Boeing 787-9 equipment from 04-Dec-2026 to 26-Mar-2027. The service will operate three times weekly, according to OAG. No other carriers operate the route. [more - original PR]

Background

United resumed seasonal three times weekly San Francisco‑Christchurch flights with Boeing 787-8s, having last operated the route in Mar-2024, and it remained the sole scheduled operator; the service also leveraged its partnership with Air New Zealand to connect US travellers onwards across the South Pacific.1 2 Christchurch International Airport also struck a three-year partnership with Tourism New Zealand to support visitation linked to United’s South Island service and to help secure and promote future routes.3

AirAsia Group, via its official website, confirmed (20-Aug-2026) the following changes to its Australia network as part of efforts to "optimise efficiency and maintain a commercially viable operation":

  • Bali-Perth: Frequency to increase to 35 times weekly from Dec-2026;
  • Kuala Lumpur-Melbourne Tullamarine: Frequency to increase to daily due to "strong performance" on the route;
  • Kuala Lumpur-Perth: Frequency to increase to 14 times weekly;
  • Kuala Lumpur-Sydney: Service operated by AirAsia X to be suspended from 25-Oct-2026 to enable AirAsia to "focus its available fleet and resources on destinations where it can operate sustainably and efficiently, while ensuring its network and market demand align". AirAsia Group noted it "remains open to returning to Sydney should market conditions change, and aircraft strategy allows". The service was launched in 2012. [more - original PR]

Background

AirAsia X Group earlier planned further Australia growth, citing “sustained demand”, including daily Kuala Lumpur-Sydney and Kuala Lumpur-Melbourne and higher Bali-Perth and Kuala Lumpur-Perth peaks.1 It also scheduled suspensions from 28-Apr-2026 on Kuala Lumpur-Darwin (AirAsia) and Bali-Darwin (Indonesia AirAsia) due to “commercially unsustainable” demand.2

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