In 2020, every major analyst predicted business travel would permanently contract. Airlines restructured toward leisure. Delta and United kept investing in premium cabins and corporate sales. Q1 2026 business revenue at United was up 14 per cent year-on-year. The forecasters were wrong.
EasyJet posted a first-half pre-tax loss of £552mn as the Iran conflict pushed fuel costs up and dampened summer bookings. Qatar Airways reported a $1.94bn full-year profit despite a near-total hub shutdown in February. Airbus warned A350 customers of fresh delivery delays.
Norse Atlantic has hired JPMorgan for a sale process that could value it at $1.3bn including debt, as Q1 net losses deepened 60 per cent and passenger numbers fell 25 per cent in April amid fuel costs and route cuts.
easyJet's H1 2026 pre-tax loss widened 40% to $740mn (552mn pounds) as fuel costs, legal provisions and new Italian base investments offset 12% revenue growth to $5.0bn and a record 90% load factor.
EasyJet reports a guided half-year pre-tax loss of between £540mn and £560mn this morning as the fuel crisis bites. The IEA warns Europe has six weeks of jet fuel remaining. Alaska Airlines launches Seattle–London Heathrow today as American opens Philadelphia–Budapest and Philadelphia–Prague.
