News

The Insider Brief — Wednesday 15 April 2026

Lufthansa cabin crew begin a two-day walkout today — the fourth strike action in six days. Boeing delivered 143 aircraft in Q1, its best first quarter since 2019. Virgin Australia holds FY26 guidance. Singapore Airlines extends Dubai suspension to 31 May.

Photo by Henry Möllers / Unsplash

Good morning. Lufthansa is on strike again.

The UFO cabin crew union began a two-day walkout at midnight, covering Lufthansa and Lufthansa CityLine through Thursday 16 April. The action follows immediately from the 48-hour pilot strike that ended at midnight Tuesday — meaning Lufthansa has operated under continuous industrial disruption from four separate walkouts since 10 April. The airline expects 80-90% of Frankfurt and Munich departures to be cancelled today and tomorrow. No resolution is in sight on the pension and pay disputes driving either the pilot or cabin crew actions; summer is six weeks away.

Three stories to watch today

Pro Insider - Sunday 24 May 2026

Ryanair posted record profit on an 80 per cent hedge book. EasyJet reported a £552mn half-year loss. Qatar Airways made $1.94bn despite a war adjacent to its hub. The jury in Seattle cleared Boeing of fraud in the LOT case. The hedge book decides who survives. This week proved it.

Four decades of widebody low-cost flying ends the same way

Four decades of widebody low-cost carriers have produced one consistent outcome: failure. An analysis of why the model cannot work, what the A321XLR changes, and what Norse's impending collapse actually means.

The hedge book is the only thing keeping low-cost alive

From Spirit's $2.24/gallon assumption to Ryanair's 80% hedge at $67/barrel: a Pro analysis of where the low-cost model breaks under fuel stress, and which carriers are closest.

Boeing wins LOT fraud trial; $49.5mn to Stumo family

A Seattle jury cleared Boeing of MAX fraud on 22 May, rejecting LOT's $153mn damages claim. Ten days earlier, a Chicago jury awarded $49.5mn to the Stumo family. Two verdicts, opposite outcomes, same week.

Read more

Pro Insider - Sunday 24 May 2026

Four decades of widebody low-cost flying ends the same way

The hedge book is the only thing keeping low-cost alive

Boeing wins LOT fraud trial; $49.5mn to Stumo family