Danny Lee

The world’s best airline is cooling on the world’s fanciest cabin seat.

Other airlines are doubling down on their high-end offerings.

Thai Airways International Pcl said it will begin talks with aircraft manufacturers to purchase 30 new widebody jets as tourists return to Thailand and the carrier looks to rebound from the pandemic.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG is hoping the European Commission will water down its stance on competition as the German carrier formally begins the process of acquiring a stake in Italy’s ITA Airways.

Global airlines stand to earn a collective $9.8 billion in profit this year, the airline industry’s main lobby group said, doubling its previous estimate from December as a surge in flying in North America and Europe drives up ticket prices.

Qantas is likely to extract a 20% premium from passengers on the world’s longest direct flights when it launches nonstop services connecting Sydney with New York and London in late 2025.

Qantas Airways Ltd. will receive deliveries of Airbus SE’s new longest-range single-aisle A321XLR jet six months later than planned, a timeframe that’s better than the industry average, the carrier’s CEO-designate said in Istanbul on Monday.

Malaysia Airlines Bhd. is seeking to add at least 25 single-aisle aircraft and will look to discuss options with both Airbus SE and Boeing Co., Chief Executive Officer Izham Ismail said.

As aviation executives descended on Istanbul this week for the industry’s annual general meeting, the mood among the crowd was openly buoyant, with participants brushing aside concerns that high inflation or anemic economic growth risk crimping demand.

US airlines and their lobby group, Airlines for America, are pushing the Biden Administration to level the playing field against Chinese rivals who can overfly Russia.