easyJet has announced plans to introduce a new generation of ultra-lightweight seats across its future Airbus A320neo and A321neo fleet, beginning in 2028. The airline will become the first to install the Kestrel seat from Mirus Aircraft Seating as part of its broader strategy to improve efficiency while enhancing the passenger experience. The move is expected to deliver significant reductions in fuel burn and emissions while offering customers up to two inches of additional legroom.

SAS Scandinavian Airlines and 3 are entering into a new commercial partnership that brings together global operational connectivity and improved passenger experience. As part of the agreement, 3 will manage SAS’ worldwide operational mobile communication and will enable free access on SAS aircraft equipped with Starlink for EuroBonus members and customers of 3. The collaboration gives SAS access to strengthened mobile network capabilities that support the airline’s daily operations across its global network. At the same time, the partnership lays the foundation for new customer‑facing benefits onboard.

Tigerair Taiwan has selected Bluebox Aviation Systems to supply wireless in-flight entertainment (IFE) across its Airbus A320 fleet, marking the airline’s first onboard IFE deployment. The rollout will bring streaming content directly to passengers’ personal electronic devices (PEDs) using a portable, battery-powered system. This move reflects a wider trend among low-cost airlines toward flexible, software-based digital experiences that boost passenger engagement and generate extra revenue.

British Airways – a member of International Airlines Group (a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub) – has teamed up with Audible, a leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, to bring new spoken-word entertainment to travellers. More than 250 hours of podcasts and audiobooks can now be enjoyed for free across every British Airways long-haul flight through its inflight entertainment system. A range of bestsellers and new releases spanning action, romance, pop culture and children’s content will be available, with a particular focus on content that showcases British talent, including homegrown authors, actors and stories.

ZIM Aircraft Seating Group has been named a finalist for the 2026 Crystal Cabin Award in the Sustainable Cabin category for its new Premium Economy seat, The Frame. The design uses modular, repairable components, including wooden materials, to reduce environmental impact while improving durability, maintenance, and passenger comfort. Instead of relying on traditional fixed structures, ZIM has built the seat for long-term use and easier repairs, showing how airlines can balance sustainability with real operational needs.

The Board of Directors of Air Canada today announced that Michael Rousseau has informed the Board that he will retire by the end of the third quarter of 2026, after nearly two decades of strong and dedicated leadership that has reinforced Air Canada’s place as a leader in the airline industry domestically and globally. Mr. Rousseau will continue to lead the company and to serve on its Board until that time. The Board has had a longstanding focus on CEO succession planning. Consistent with this priority, work has been underway for more than two years on a comprehensive internal development program for high potential executives. 

Aviation technology specialist SITA has new analytics software that will predict significant baggage disruptions and bottlenecks. Bag Radar will give airlines, airports, and ground handlers an early warning system for missed connections, mishandled bags, or operational backlogs. It operates on a cloud-based analytics solution that “turns operational baggage data into clear operational intelligence across the baggage journey”, said SITA. Nicole Hogg, Director of Baggage at SITA, said: “Airlines and airports already generate huge volumes of baggage data every day, but much of that information has historically been used to investigate problems after disruption has already happened.

As jet fuel costs spike and Middle East airspace closures force longer routings, airlines are facing rapid fare increases that are landing directly in front of passengers. The challenge is no longer just cost recovery. It is sustaining confidence while prices rise. In a new industry brief, APEX Group CEO Dr. Joe Leader outlines five practical strategies airlines should use right now to protect loyalty, maintain pricing credibility, and position for stronger market share in the next demand cycle. Free for APEX members.

airBaltic is partnering with InterLnkd to integrate AirMall into its Skynet onboard WiFi portal, becoming the first Starlink-connected airline to launch a global, dynamic inflight shopping mall experience for its passengers. AirMall by InterLnkd turns the carrier’s WiFi portal into an airline-branded retail channel on passengers’ own devices, connecting travellers to 20,000+ brands in the air with zero onboard stock or crew involvement. The provider-agnostic solution offers tailored recommendations, loyalty integration, and flexible post-flight delivery options.

Some airline routes are special because of the insatiable passenger demand they create, like Seoul to Jeju in South Korea, which is often ranked as the world’s busiest route. Others are special because they link two globally influential cities like New York and London. Then there’s Dallas to New York, which is increasingly attracting a higher than average proportion of business travelers, and, as of February 2026, is notable in another way: American Airlines’ new inflight Texas barbecue sandwich.

Qantas is elevating the humble hamburger to first class fare – and it’s not just any burger, but a culinary creation hailed as the best burger in Australia. From this week, the airline will serve up the Café Margaret American Cheeseburger to passengers in the first class cabin of its Airbus A380 jets soaring from Sydney and Melbourne to Los Angeles, Singapore and Dallas. Café Margaret is of course the casual all-day dining neighbour to Chef Neil Perry’s award-winning Margaret restaurant at Double Bay.

JetBlue Airways is raising bag fees at least $4 as jet fuel prices soar amid the Iran war. Airfare has climbed for routes around the world since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. The higher fees for checked bags are the most recent sign of airlines passing steeper fuel costs down to U.S. consumers. Jet fuel is airlines’ biggest expense after labor. JetBlue now lists the price to check a first piece of luggage for domestic, Caribbean and Latin America flights as $39 for off-peak periods for most economy passengers, up from $35. For peak periods, like much of the summer and major holidays, the fee will go up to $49 from $40.

Few silhouettes in the history of global aviation are as instantly recognizable as the Boeing 747. The distinctive hump that sits atop the forward fuselage defines the aircraft, yet the layout and logic behind this upper deck remain a mystery to many travelers. This guide will take you inside that elevated space to explain how it evolved from a small social lounge into a critical component of global logistics and high-end passenger travel. Looking back to the mid-1960s, this was a time when engineers believed supersonic flight would soon make conventional jets obsolete.