According to court documents obtained by People, 32-year-old Cody James Maluck of Indianapolis was charged with interference with flight crew members or attendants following the incident aboard Delta Flight 800 on 9 May. The flight had departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and was bound for Los Angeles before it was diverted to Atlanta.

The incident occurred shortly after flight attendants began complimentary beverage service. A flight attendant identified in court records as “P.L.L.” told investigators that she passed by Maluck because she believed he was asleep.

After serving another passenger nearby, the flight attendant alleged that she “felt a slap to her buttocks area with sufficient force to cause her body to move forward,” according to the complaint.

Another flight attendant witnessed the encounter and confirmed that she heard P.L.L. yell and saw her body move “as if she had been struck or pushed,” the court filing said. 

The pilot was informed of the situation and decided to divert the aircraft to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where local law enforcement officers boarded the plane and took Maluck into custody.

During an interview with a federal air marshal, Maluck admitted that he “did touch” P.L.L.’s buttocks area but claimed not to “slap her” hard enough to push her forward. According to the complaint, he claimed he didn’t hear anyone asking if he wanted a beverage because he was wearing headphones.

“Maluck further stated it was not his intention to harm or disrespect [her], but rather that he was attempting to get her attention,” the court documents say.

Federal prosecutors allege that Maluck’s conduct interfered with the duties of the flight crew, resulting in the unscheduled landing. He was initially booked into the Atlanta City Detention Center and made his first court appearance on 11 May.

A federal grand jury indicted Maluck on 3 June, according to court records. The charge of interference with flight crew members and attendants is a felony offence.

Delta said in a statement to People that it maintains a strict policy regarding disruptive passenger behaviour.

“Delta has zero tolerance for disruptive or unruly behavior on our flights. We will always cooperate with law enforcement to address such conduct and protect our people,” the airline said.

The case is the latest in a series of incidents involving alleged assaults against airline employees, as carriers and federal authorities continue to emphasise the legal consequences of disruptive conduct aboard commercial flights.

The UK government is considering the introduction of a nationwide airline blacklist that could prevent disruptive passengers from flying with any carrier, rather than allowing them to switch airlines after being banned by one operator. The proposal, which is expected to be discussed with the aviation industry later this month, would target travellers involved in serious incidents such as violence, harassment of cabin crew and alcohol-related misconduct. A government source told the BBC: “Everyone should be able to enjoy a pint at the airport, but anti-social behaviour on flights is completely unacceptable. It puts the safety of passengers and crew at risk and disrupts holidays.” The plans would require airlines and the government to work together on a shared database of banned passengers, although current data protection laws present a significant obstacle to such a proposal.

Ryanair has stepped up its efforts to tackle disruptive passengers by introducing fines of at least €500 for travellers removed from flights due to unruly behaviour, with further civil damages if the misconduct results in extra costs for the airline. In one high-profile case, the airline sued a passenger for €15,000 after their alleged behaviour forced a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote to divert to Porto, causing overnight delays and additional expenses for more than 160 passengers and crew. Ryanair has also called on European airports to limit passengers to two alcoholic drinks before boarding, arguing that stricter controls on alcohol sales would help improve safety and reduce disruptive incidents on flights.

L’article Delta passenger faces charges after slapping flight attendant’s buttocks over missed drink service est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Staff operating the airport’s last passenger flight on 5 June may never forget the occasion, since it involved some special guests. Members of the famous 1990s British boy band Take That were aboard, having been in the city performing their Circus Live tour.

Writing on social media platform Facebook, the airport said: “Those nice gentlemen from ‘Take That’ flew into Coventry Airport this evening and when they found out that they were our last ever passengers on our last booked commercial flight prior to closing, they insisted on a photograph with the ground crew to mark the occasion.”

As previously reported by Travel Tomorrow, Coventry Airport started life as Baginton Aerodrome in 1936 and became a fighter airfield during the Second World War. It was damaged in Hitler’s devastating 1940 Coventry Blitz. As well as military service, it has witnessed almost every aspect of aviation, from cargo to medical, and commercial passenger traffic, as well as the rise of package holidays to Austria, Italy, and Spain in the eighties, and budget flights to Poland with Wizz from the 2000s.

The boys from Take That are not the only famous guests. On his only trip to the UK in 1982, Pope John Paul II held Mass for around 350,000 people there. The hub is also home to the Midlands Air Museum.

But planning permission has already been approved for a battery manufacturing plant on the site, which is being rebaptised as Greenpower Park. Greenlit in 2022, the partnership between Coventry City Council and Coventry Airport received a £23-million (€26.6-million) cash injection from West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) in January 2025.

Designed to give the area what former city councillor Jim O’Boyle called “an economic lift” and create over 30,000 jobs, the €2.5-billion venture forms part of a wider West Midlands Investment Zone, with manufacturing sites at Coventry and Warwick Gigapark, Birmingham Knowledge Quarter, and the Wolverhampton Green Innovation Corridor.

In contrast, stakeholders at another historic UK hub, Manston Airport in Kent, have been consulting on a possible reopening. Investment firm RiverOak Strategic Partners (RSP) has described plans there as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver new runway capacity to support the UK air cargo market and to transform the economic landscape in East Kent.”

L’article Historic UK Midlands airport now set to become battery plant est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Emirates, one of the flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates and based in Dubai, has been directly impacted by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Yet despite rising costs, the airline will be sticking to a strategy of maintaining flight schedules. In an interview, Emirates president Tim Clark explained exactly how the carrier will be encouraging travellers to return.

According to Clark, Emirates’ new incentive programme will not focus on lower fares to reassure travellers and to get them to return to the airline’s hub, Dubai. As airfare is highly aligned with the price of jet fuel, which is prone to fluctuation at the time of writing, reducing ticket prices is not an option for the carrier.

However, all other means are fit to lure back customers, including safety and reliability in an uncertain market.

“We’ll take care of all of that, including flying them on other carriers if necessary to bring them home or get the kids into school,” Clark told Reuters, speaking of people’s concerns about flights getting cancelled or travellers being stranded.

Since the start of the conflict, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has been advising airlines not to fly over certain parts of the Gulf and Middle East by applying conflict-zone warnings. This is putting Emirates in a difficult position, and although Clark says he understands their obligation to protect travellers, he is in talks with different governments and regulators in an attempt to ease restrictions.

Concluding his interview with Reuters, Clark indicated that Emirates is still hoping for a good summer season. Once the price for jet fuel drops from $90 a barrel to around $70, the airline should be back on track, although it remains unclear when exactly this will happen.

Emirates in 2026

According to a statement issued by Emirates on 4 May 2026, the airline had restored 96% of its global network. In the weeks before, the airline had progressively resumed services across the Americas, Europe, Africa, West Asia, the Middle East/GCC, the Far East, and Australasia.

With 137 destinations across 72 countries and over 1,300 weekly frequencies, Emirates has reached 75% of pre-disruption capacity.

“The airline is offering more flights, more seats, and more options each day while reaffirming Dubai’s position as a vital hub through which global travel moves. Even as it operated with a reduced schedule, Emirates carried 4.7 million passengers during the disruption, a testament to the enduring demand for travel and the trust that travellers continued to place in the airline to get them where they needed to go,” Emirates wrote.

According to industry estimates, the conflict in the Middle East could cost the region approximately 23 million international visitors and nearly $34 billion in tourism spending.

L’article Emirates launches incentive programme to reassure travellers amid tensions with Iran est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The latest revision reflects significant progress in Kyrgyzstan’s aviation sector. All airlines certified in the Central Asian country have been removed from the list following reforms aimed at strengthening aviation safety oversight and aligning national standards with international requirements. Kyrgyz carriers had been subject to the EU ban since 2006 due to concerns over regulatory oversight and compliance with international aviation safety standards. 

Air Express Algeria added over safety concerns

While Kyrgyzstan celebrated its removal from the blacklist, Air Express Algeria faced the opposite outcome. The Algerian carrier has been added to the EU Air Safety List following assessments by European aviation safety experts that identified serious shortcomings in its compliance with international safety standards. As a result, the airline is no longer permitted to operate flights within the European Union.

Commission updates EU Air Safety List: Air Express Algeria added, air carriers from Kyrgyzstan removed

All the details: https://t.co/rPgxJO4d2M#airsafety pic.twitter.com/HgWH0zoXnb

— European Commission in Cyprus (@EUCYPRUS) June 9, 2026

The European Commission said the decision was based solely on safety considerations and followed evaluations carried out by the EU Air Safety Committee, which met in Brussels between 19 and 21 May 2026. The committee brings together aviation safety experts from EU member states and works with the support of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Parliament’s Transport Committee.

Passenger confidence remains high

The update coincides with the publication of a new Eurobarometer survey showing strong public confidence in the EU Air Safety List. According to the survey, 70% of Europeans consider the list an effective tool for protecting passengers from unsafe airlines, while 75% trust the EU to update it based on safety criteria rather than political or economic considerations.

Awareness of the list has also grown. Half of Europeans say they are familiar with its existence, while 66% report having received air safety-related information. However, only 12% actively consult the list before booking a flight. Despite this relatively low level of direct consultation, the blacklist appears to influence traveller behaviour significantly. Just 8% of respondents said they would proceed with booking a flight with an airline included on the list. 

154 airlines remain banned

Following the latest update, 154 airlines remain banned from operating in EU airspace. Of these, 126 airlines are certified in 16 countries where aviation authorities are deemed unable to provide adequate safety oversight. A further 22 Russian airlines and six individual carriers from other countries are banned because of specific safety deficiencies identified by EU experts. These include Air Zimbabwe, Avior Airlines, Iran Aseman Airlines, Fly Baghdad, Iraqi Airways and the newly added Air Express Algeria.

Two airlines remain subject to operational restrictions rather than a complete ban. Iran Air and North Korea’s Air Koryo may continue operating limited services to the EU using only specific aircraft types approved by European regulators. 

Introduced in 2006, the EU Air Safety List is designed to inform passengers about airlines that fail to meet international aviation safety standards and to encourage countries and carriers to improve oversight and operational practices. The latest update highlights both sides of that mission: the continued exclusion of airlines that fall short of safety requirements and the possibility of returning to European skies through sustained regulatory reform.

L’article EU bans Air Express Algeria as Kyrgyz airlines return to European skies est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The Hungarian carrier has described this development as “the evolution of affordable, always-connected air travel”.

For the uninitiated, Starlink, which is operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, provides high-speed internet via a network of low-Earth orbit satellites, delivering fast, consistent broadband at 39,000 feet from gate to gate. Passengers will be able to download a three-hour HD film in around three minutes, make video calls without interruption, and crucially, use the service from gate to gate rather than only once airborne.

Wizz Air added that “every new generation Wizz Air aircraft is expected to be Starlink-equipped, ensuring a consistent onboard experience regardless of route or destination”. The company currently operates 265 Airbus A320 family aircraft, around 200 of which are the newer NEO models likely to be retrofitted.

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Notably, Ryanair and easyJet have held back from adding satellite internet to their fleets. EasyJet walked away after holding discussions with Starlink. Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s combative CEO, had a high-profile disagreement with Musk and has since cited installation costs, fuel drag, and the short duration of his flights as reasons not to proceed.

Starlink has prohibited carriers from charging passengers extra for the service, thus removing the most obvious way to recoup the investment.

Wizz Air’s Chief Commercial Officer, Ian Malin, has taken a different approach. Commenting on the deal, he said, “The whole point of ultra-low-cost travel has always been to make opportunities accessible to more people. In 2027, we’re taking that philosophy into the space era”.

The financial terms of the agreement between Wizz Air and SpaceX were not disclosed.

Starlink has already signed agreements with several major US airlines, including American Airlines, Southwest, United and Alaska Airlines. It has also partnered with long-haul operators such as Singapore Airlines and Emirates. In February 2025, Latvian carrier airBaltic became the first to launch the service in Europe, followed by Air France, SAS and British Airways. In Asia, the Hanjin Group of South Korea, which includes Korean Air, Asiana Airlines and three budget airlines, announced a deal in December 2025, with the service expected to be rolled out across 2026.

SpaceX continues to expand Starlink’s presence in the aviation industry, making in-flight connectivity a key battleground for airlines.

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This announcement comes at a time when the aviation industry is under renewed pressure due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, which has led to higher fuel prices and changes to some flight routes. While installing satellite technology represents a significant investment, Wizz Air appears undeterred.

The airline has recently faced challenges, including reducing its order for Airbus aircraft and ending its operations in Abu Dhabi. However, ahead of its latest financial results on 11 June, the carrier reported 26% passenger growth in May, expects strong summer demand, and has said it aims to break even or deliver a modest profit this year.

Although Wizz Air is presenting itself as the first low-cost airline to commit to a fleet-wide Starlink rollout, it may not be the first European carrier to complete the installation process. Lufthansa Group’s Eurowings is also expected to introduce the technology following the agreement announced by its parent company.

Regardless of who crosses the finish line first, passengers will likely hope that other low-cost airlines follow suit.

L’article Wizz Air bets on Starlink Wi-Fi as low-cost rivals remain cautious est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Jet fuel Prices jumped by 26% from March to April alone, eventually reaching $4.11 per gallon, an increase of $1.81 year-on-year, and putting further strain on an industry already grappling with mounting operational costs.

Airlines have been trying to absorb the impact by adjusting fares, reviewing baggage fees, reducing frequencies on some routes and consolidating flights to avoid flying with empty seats. However, reducing services comes with its own risks, including losing valuable airport slots on competitive routes.

This pressure is particularly significant in a market dominated by four major carriers: Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines, which together account for around 80% of the US domestic passenger market.

In its latest annual report, released last Sunday, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the global trade organisation which represents around 370 airlines and over 85% of global air traffic, warned that the outlook for the industry has worsened.

It now expects combined airline net profits to reach $23 billion in 2026, which is well below its previous projection of $41 billion, and significantly lower than the $45 billion recorded in 2025.

According to IATA, the industry’s fuel bill is expected to reach $350 billion this year, up from $252 billion in 2025.

Speaking at the association’s 82^nd annual summit in Rio de Janeiro, IATA warned that, while a fuel shortage remains unlikely, rising prices alone could add almost $100 billion to the aviation sector’s costs.

“Smaller carriers that started the year with weak balance sheets are certainly struggling”, Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA, said.

Flights inside the US have risen by about 31% this year, while international flights departing from the US are up by 22%, according to KAYAK price comparisons between 2025 and 2026.

In addition to higher prices, regional tensions and airspace closures have forced some airlines to cancel or reroute flights, creating longer journeys and increasing fuel consumption.

Fuel accounts for roughly a third of airline operating costs.

Walsh said that the conflict in Iran and rising fuel costs “have worsened the outlook for airlines”.

He added that part of the additional cost had been recovered “by adjusting prices and improving efficiency”, but warned that this would not be enough to maintain previous levels of profitability.

The war started on 28 February 2026 with a joint US-Israeli attack targeting Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile infrastructure. It quickly expanded across the region after the Islamic Republic retaliated against Israel and several Gulf countries, forcing airlines to avoid large parts of Middle Eastern airspace. The situation worsened as Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategic maritime routes and a vital passage for oil supplies, adding further pressure on fuel markets.

Washington and Tehran are currently negotiating a possible end to the conflict. However, the outcome remains uncertain, with sporadic fighting continuing between the various parties involved.

Profits are now expected to shrink from $45 billion in 2025 to $23 billion in 2026, while margins are forecast to fall from 4.2% to 2%.

With summer travel approaching and the United States preparing to welcome millions of visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the challenges posed by higher fares, volatile fuel prices and geopolitical uncertainty are becoming increasingly apparent.

L’article Middle East conflict sends US airline fuel costs soaring to $6.5 billion est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Aurigny flight GR678 took off from Guernsey at 5:17 pm on Sunday, 7 June 2026. Expected to land at Manchester approximately one hour later, the ATR 72 aircraft suddenly made a U-turn when flying near Basingstoke in Hampshire and made an emergency landing at Southampton airport shortly after.

According to the British news outlet The Independent, the short-haul propeller plane experienced a mid-air windscreen cracking, forcing it to cut its flight short.

“In line with standard operating procedures, the flight crew carried out a precautionary emergency landing. Passengers and crew are safe and well,” Guernsey-based Aurigny said in a statement.

The carrier also added that a bus had been arranged in order to take the on-board passengers from Southampton to Manchester. While it is unclear how many passengers were flying on the aircraft at the time of the incident, the ATR 72 aircraft has a maximum capacity of 72.

A different plane was made ready by Aurigny to make the return journey from Manchester to Guernsey, a self-governing British Crown Dependency located in the English Channel. At the time of writing in June 2026, Aurigny was operating a fleet of seven active aircraft, including five ATR 72-600 regional turboprops.

@theinfrequentflyers Can you believe this island is less than 1 hour from London?! So now you know about Guernsey, how do you get here? BY AIR – fly with one of two airlines, @Aurigny – route maps and time tables can be found on their respective websites @British Airways – flying daily from London Heathrow BY SEA – sail with @Brittany Ferries from France, Poole or Portsmouth. You can even bring your car if you want to brave the tiny lanes Either way, the journey is half the fun – sailing past the neighbouring islands or flying in over the golden beaches… the arrival is worth the trip alone (that’s if it’s not foggy, ofc). If you’re planning a trip, or just curious about life on a small island, drop your questions in the comments Follow along for more content about Guernsey, other travel destinations and recommendations. #guernsey #islandlife #thatislandfeeling #guernseyci #channelislands @Islands of Guernsey ♬ original sound – Ben & Ty | Travel

Aurigny throughout 2026

2026 has been an eventful year for Aurigny. On 26 March, approximately one month after the start of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, the airline announced it had made some schedule and capacity adjustments on selected routes and dates between mid-April and early June 2026. Flights to and from London City airport were reduced, services to and from South-West England were to be combined between Exeter and Bristol, and many of the flights to and from Paris were pushed back until June.

“Amid heightened global instability, bookings for travel during this period have been slower than anticipated at a time when some travellers may be reassessing their immediate travel plans. At present, bookings for May are approximately 13% below last year, when comparing routes the airline has operated during both years”, the carrier explained at the time.

However, since then, Aurigny and Visit Guernsey launched a joint campaign to promote Guernsey as “The Simplest Way to Feel a World Away” on 1 May. A similar initiative in 2025 had already proven to be effective, causing a 12% in air travellers in 2025 compared to 2024.

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“Having a national airline working in close partnership with a national tourism marketing organisation is a rare combination, and one that provides a strong recipe for success – something clearly demonstrated by our 2025 results. We see Visit Guernsey as an extension of our own team, united by a shared ambition to deliver for the islands,” said Sam Talbot, Head of Marketing for Aurigny.

Finally, on 12 May 2026 and despite the global jet fuel crisis, Aurigny announced the strengthening of its Southampton base through the growth of its local operations. Overall, 18 Aurigny staff members have covered all aspects of customer service and ground handling at Southampton Airport.

L’article UK domestic flight makes emergency landing after cracked windscreen forces diversion est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Jet fuel traditionally represents a big part of an airline’s operating costs – approximately 25 to 30%  according to the International Air Transport Association. Since the start of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran and the spike in fuel costs it has caused, however, that percentage has dramatically increased.

“War-related disruptions in the Middle East and rising fuel costs have shifted the outlook for airlines for the worse. Profits will shrink from $45 billion in 2025 to $23 billion this year. And margins will shrink from 4.2% to 2.0%,” explained Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Airlines have been taking different kinds of measures to deal with the cost increase. From raising ticket prices to applying fuel surcharges and reducing flight routes, many carriers have been combining all three in order to stay afloat.

American Airlines applies temporary flight cuts

American Airlines has now announced it will be cancelling a number of flight routes throughout August and September to manage its increased costs. Six routes will not be operating over the two-month period: Los Angeles to Cleveland, Los Angeles to Columbus, Los Angeles to Pittsburgh, Los Angeles to Washington Dulles, Charlotte to Ontario, and Charlotte to Sacramento.

“American is not suspending any routes indefinitely as part of this adjustment,” an American Airlines spokesperson explained in a statement.

The late-summer cancellations are thus to be considered as a temporary measure, not as a definitive flight route cut. The airline has also mentioned that passengers affected by the measure will be offered two options: they will be able to either rebook their flight or get a refund.

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Los Angeles International Airport and the jet fuel crisis

American Airlines is not the first airline to suspend (a selection of) its flights to and from Los Angeles International Airport. Norse Atlantic Airways already cancelled its LAX-Europe flights over the summer months in April, and Allegiant Airlines rerouted its flights to Hollywood Burbank Airport.

The reason Los Angeles International Airport was particularly hit by flight cancellations during the jet fuel crisis is mainly due to the fact that the American West Coast is not connected by pipelines to the rest of the country. According to United Airlines Chief Executive Scott Kirby, this means fuel has to be brought in by ship, which has reportedly led to a 40% increase in jet fuel prices since the start of the conflict in the Middle East.

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“Fuel price is more susceptible to supply weakness on the West Coast than anywhere else in the country,” Scott Kirby said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times in March 2026.

Although Los Angeles International Airport still offers a wide selection of flights, passengers scheduled to fly through or from LAX should keep an eye on their flight details.

L’article American Airlines cancels routes in August and September amid jet fuel crisis est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Abdulrahman Oriyomi, 25, managed to pass through security and board a flight to Los Angeles before an attentive passenger, concerned by his repeated trips back and forth to the restroom, alerted a flight attendant. The plane was subsequently taxied back to the gate.

The incident happened on 18 May, and Oriyomi was charged with felony impairment or interruption of a critical infrastructure facility, according to court records filed last week in Harris County, Texas.

According to the complaint, CCTV footage shows Oriyomi seemingly having trouble with his boarding pass before being escorted to another TSA booth. There, his picture is taken and he is allowed to go through security into the terminal.

Later, he is reportedly turned away at different gates after his boarding pass does not work until he spos a busy gate where attendants are occupied with other passengers.

“As Defendant Oriyomi approaches he intentionally waits for the United employees to be preoccupied with other passengers. He then pretends he is going to show his boarding pass, walks past the United employees, then proceeds down the jetway while the two United employees are still distracted,” the complaint states.

Once on board, Oriyomi reportedly took a seat but rapidly disappeared into the restroom. When he came out, he found the rightful passenger occupying the seat he had been using, so he picked another one and repeated the same scenario several times, as the plane was full.

He was in the restroom as the plane began to pull away from the gate when a passenger alerted a flight attendant. After repeatedly failing to return to his seat and identifying himself as “M. Lopez”, flight attendants checked the passenger list and found nobody on board under that name.

After he was removed from the aircraft, the plane underwent a thorough search for explosives by the Houston Police Department’s K-9 unit.

According to the complaint, Oriyomi had apparently tried to make a booking, but the reservation was cancelled due to non-payment.

As he left the airport, Oriyomi received a trespass warning, which he filmed on his phone.

The flight ended up being delayed by three hours. Oriyomi was arrested a few days after the incident for allegedly intentionally impairing or interrupting the operation of a critical infrastructure facility. He is due to appear in Harris County Court for a bail review.

United Airlines referred questions to the Houston Police Department, while Houston Airports referred CNN to the TSA for security screening information, adding that “all security screening measures are implemented by federal and local authorities”.

The TSA told CNN in a statement that “the individual in question presented a valid boarding pass at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The individual did go through standard screening and did not possess any prohibited items.”

However, according to the complaint, the boarding pass later used by Oriyomi appeared to be fake, as it was “missing key information and the QR code appeared to be forged”.

It is not the first stowaway case reported in recent years. In February, a passenger without a ticket or ID managed to pass through security at Nashville International Airport and travel on an American Airlines flight to Los Angeles before being discovered.

In March 2024, a man boarded a Delta Air Lines flight using someone else’s ticket and was discovered hiding in the aircraft’s toilets just before take-off, in a case bearing similarities to last month’s incident.

L’article Another US airport security breach as man sneaks onto United Airlines flight est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Speaking at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual summit in Rio de Janeiro, airline leaders warned that although widespread jet fuel shortages are unlikely, the industry is being hit by a fuel cost shock worth almost $100 billion.

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According to IATA’s latest financial outlook, airlines are expected to spend $350 billion on fuel in 2026, up from $252 billion in 2025. The increase comes despite global fuel consumption remaining broadly unchanged at around 104 billion gallons.

The sharp rise is entirely driven by higher prices. IATA forecasts jet fuel will average $152 per barrel this year, almost 70% higher than the $90 per barrel recorded in 2025. Crude oil prices are expected to average $95 per barrel, compared with $69 last year.

Profits cut almost in half

The higher fuel bill, combined with operational disruption caused by the war in the Middle East, has prompted IATA to dramatically downgrade its industry outlook.

Global airlines are now expected to post a combined net profit of $23 billion in 2026, compared with a previous forecast of $41 billion. The figure is also roughly half the $45 billion profit generated in 2025.

Net profit margins are forecast to fall from 4.2% to just 2.0%, while net profit per passenger is expected to decline from $9.10 to $4.50.

“War-related disruptions in the Middle East and rising fuel costs have shifted the outlook for airlines to the worse,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

“Profits will shrink from $45 billion in 2025 to $23 billion this year. And margins will shrink from 4.2% to 2.0%.”

Walsh noted that all airline bottom lines are suffering from the rapid rise in fuel prices, even though some of the additional costs are being recovered through fare increases and efficiency measures.

Passengers likely to pay more

The latest figures suggest travellers should expect air fares to continue rising throughout the year.

Passenger ticket revenues are forecast to increase by 9.2% to $839 billion, significantly outpacing expected passenger demand growth of 2.1%. Passenger yields, a key measure of average fare levels, are expected to rise by 7%.

IATA said airlines are actively attempting to recover part of the fuel shock through higher ticket prices, while also increasing ancillary revenues from services such as baggage, seat selection and onboard purchases.

“While air fares are rising, airlines are still absorbing part of the hike in their bottom lines,” Walsh said.

“Net profit per passenger is expected to fall to $4.50, half of what it was last year. Under the circumstances, that shows resilience.”

Despite higher prices, demand remains strong. Passenger numbers are expected to reach 5.1 billion in 2026, up 2.4% on last year, while average load factors are forecast to reach a record 84%, meaning airlines will fill more seats than ever before.

Middle East airlines hardest hit

Airlines based in the Middle East are expected to suffer the most severe financial consequences.

The region, which generated a collective profit of $7.2 billion in 2025, is forecast to post a net loss of $4.3 billion in 2026. The conflict has disrupted key air corridors, forced airspace closures and weakened transfer traffic through major Gulf hubs.

“Gulf carriers face operational uncertainty following a near complete shutdown of airspace at the outbreak of the war,” Walsh said.

“These carriers are doing an amazing job maintaining connectivity, but major financial impacts are unavoidable.”

Elsewhere, airlines are expected to remain profitable, although at significantly lower levels than previously anticipated.

European airlines are forecast to generate $9.6 billion in profit, down from $13 billion last year, while North American carriers are expected to earn $9.4 billion, compared with $12.4 billion in 2025.

Aircraft shortages and rising costs

Fuel is not the only challenge facing the sector.

Airlines continue to struggle with aircraft delivery delays and supply chain disruptions. IATA said the global aircraft order backlog reached 18,100 aircraft in May 2026, representing more than half of the active fleet currently in service.

The shortage is forcing airlines to keep older aircraft flying longer, increasing maintenance costs and slowing progress on fuel efficiency improvements.

Aircraft lease rates have also reached record highs as airlines compete for limited capacity.

Additional pressures come from labour costs, sustainability regulations and investments in cleaner fuels. The airline industry is expected to spend an extra $4.3 billion on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) this year, while carbon offsetting obligations under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) are estimated to cost up to $1.6 billion.

Travellers remain optimistic

Despite geopolitical tensions and rising prices, passenger confidence remains remarkably resilient.

An IATA survey of 6,500 travellers across 15 countries found that 41% expect to travel more over the next 12 months, while a further 52% plan to travel at similar levels.

Although 83% of respondents said they were becoming more cost conscious, most still view air travel as good value for money.

For airlines, however, the challenge remains balancing strong demand with mounting costs. With fuel now accounting for more than 31% of total operating expenses, up from 25% last year, the industry faces a difficult year ahead as it seeks to absorb the biggest fuel price shock in more than a decade.

L’article Airlines face $100 billion fuel shock as fares climb and profits tumble  est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.