Data-driven operations and greater industry cooperation are becoming increasingly important for airlines seeking to reduce fuel consumption as higher energy prices put mounting pressure on profitability, according to Stuart Fox, Director, Flight and Operations at the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Fuel is expected to represent nearly one-third of global airline operating costs in 2026, with carriers projected to spend about $350 billion on jet fuel. IATA said higher and more volatile energy prices, partly linked to conflict in the Middle East, are expected to weigh heavily on airline profitability.

Global airline profit margins are forecast to decline from 4.2% in 2025 to 2.0% in 2026.

Although airlines could attempt to offset higher fuel expenses through increased fares, IATA said there is a limit to how much additional cost passengers are willing or able to absorb. As a result, improving fuel efficiency has become a key priority across the industry.

An IATA survey conducted in March found that 90% of airlines considered fuel efficiency a top priority. The figure rose to 96% among respondents working in finance and procurement.

With fleet modernisation and network adjustments already delivering many conventional efficiency improvements, IATA said airlines will increasingly need to rely on data-driven operational decisions to achieve additional savings.

Benchmarking can help carriers identify inefficient fuel use by comparing their performance with airlines operating similar aircraft on comparable routes. IATA currently has access to real-time operational data from more than 240 airlines.

The association’s Fuel Efficiency Gap Analysis (FEGA) advisory service and FuelIS analytical platform allow airlines to assess potential savings by aircraft type, route, flight phase and region.

For instance, benchmarking may show that an airline regularly lands with higher fuel reserves than comparable operators. Such findings can help identify opportunities to reduce fuel burn without compromising safety, supported by operational guidance and crew training.

IATA, however, said airlines cannot resolve every source of inefficiency independently. Greater cooperation across the aviation industry, particularly in air traffic management, is also needed.

More efficient flight paths and direct arrival procedures can help reduce unnecessary fuel consumption. IATA is therefore urging continued investment in modernising air traffic management systems and stronger cooperation among aviation stakeholders.

With fuel expenses continuing to weigh on airline finances, IATA said data analysis, performance benchmarking and coordinated operational improvements will play an increasingly important role in identifying further savings and improving efficiency across the industry.

Source: ZAWYA

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) will operate 66 domestic and international routes under its winter 2026/27 timetable, covering key destinations across Europe, Australia and Asia.

The seasonal schedule will run from October 25, 2026, to March 27, 2027, aligning with Thailand’s peak tourism period.

THAI announced the programme on September 2, 2026, saying it had increased selected services and flight frequencies in response to passenger bookings and travel demand. The airline is also using the winter schedule to strengthen its network connectivity through Bangkok.

The carrier’s winter network will include 15 routes to Europe and Australia, 43 routes across Asia and eight domestic routes.

Source: QCAA

Saudi Arabia’s low-cost airline flyadeal, part of Saudia Group, has expanded its operations in Pakistan with the launch of a new direct route linking Madinah with Karachi.

The airline will operate two flights per week on the new route, deploying Airbus A320neo aircraft equipped with 186 Economy Class seats.

With the addition of Madinah, Karachi is now connected by flyadeal to three Saudi cities, following the airline’s existing services from Jeddah and Riyadh.

The new route also takes flyadeal’s total number of destinations in Pakistan to seven, highlighting the carrier’s continued expansion in the market.

Abdulaziz Bahri, Chief Operating Officer of flyadeal, said the launch demonstrates the airline’s growing commitment to Pakistan, where demand has continued to strengthen across its international network.

Bahri noted that flyadeal began serving Pakistan with two routes last year and has since expanded to seven. He said the rapid growth reflects the strong economic, cultural and people-to-people ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, alongside growing demand for the airline’s modern, efficient, friendly and affordable services.

Source: TradeArabia

Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi-based AI technology company ROX have agreed to explore potential areas of collaboration, with the partnership initially centred on ROX’s Africa Grand Tour S2.

Under the memorandum of understanding, Etihad’s brand will appear on the vehicle used for the overland expedition. The companies will also consider joint content, storytelling and marketing initiatives linked to the tour, creating an opportunity to connect air travel with ground mobility and destination experiences across Africa.

ROX’s Africa Grand Tour S2 is an extended overland expedition across the continent featuring the ROX ADAMAS. The journey is intended to demonstrate the vehicle’s capabilities across a wide range of destinations and driving conditions while generating content around travel, exploration and mobility.

The initiative will serve as an initial platform for Etihad and ROX to explore ways of combining air connectivity, ground transportation and destination experiences through storytelling and content.

The MoU was signed in Abu Dhabi during the inauguration of ROX’s Advanced AI Manufacturing Centre. Beyond the Africa Grand Tour, the agreement provides a broader framework for the two companies to examine potential cooperation in intelligent mobility, technology, lifestyle innovation, future travel experiences and destination-focused mobility.

Etihad Airways CEO Antonoaldo Neves said the Africa Grand Tour offers an opportunity to bring together travel, destinations, mobility and storytelling.

“From Abu Dhabi, Etihad connects people to a growing global network, and we are always interested in new ideas that can enhance how people experience the places they travel to,” Neves said. He added that the MoU would allow both sides to assess potential areas of alignment and the prospects for future collaboration.

Yan Feng, CEO of ROX, said the company was established with the aim of developing intelligent mobility solutions that connect people, technology and destinations.

He described the Africa Grand Tour as a starting point for exploring broader opportunities in intelligent mobility, travel and lifestyle, adding that ROX and Etihad could complement each other by connecting land-based exploration with air travel.

Both companies are headquartered in Abu Dhabi and see potential for their respective technologies, capabilities and brands to work together, beginning with the Africa Grand Tour S2.

Source: WAM

Air Arabia is expanding its services to Thailand by adding a fourth daily non-stop flight between Sharjah and Bangkok, strengthening air connectivity between the UAE and Southeast Asia.

The additional frequency will begin on October 25, 2026, increasing the airline’s Sharjah-Bangkok operations to 28 non-stop flights per week and giving passengers more travel options.

The expanded Bangkok schedule complements Air Arabia’s existing 21 weekly non-stop flights between Sharjah and Phuket, strengthening its presence in two of Thailand’s major destinations.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said the increased Bangkok service reflects the importance of Thailand to the airline’s network and growing demand for affordable travel between the UAE and Southeast Asia.

He said increasing Bangkok operations to four daily flights, alongside the existing Phuket service, would give passengers greater flexibility while enhancing Sharjah’s connectivity with Thailand.

With the new frequency, Air Arabia will operate a combined 49 non-stop weekly flights between Sharjah and Bangkok and Phuket, making Thailand one of its key destinations in Southeast Asia.

The expanded schedule will also provide passengers travelling from the UAE with more flexibility when planning direct journeys from Sharjah.

Source: ZAWYA