OPINION

There is a line buried in airline annual reports that tends to get overlooked in good times. Fuel costs are, the reports note, "extremely volatile and unpredictable, and even a small change in market fuel prices can significantly affect profitability." Southwest Airlines wrote that in its 2025 filing. Weeks later, it became the understatement of the year. When the US and Israel struck Iran on 28 February 2026, the airline industry's most intractable cost problem moved from ch

On 26 March 2026, United Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) announced a tentative agreement covering approximately 30,000 cabin crew members. On paper, it is a landmark deal. The airline says it will make its flight attendants the best-paid in the American airline industry, with top hourly wages reaching $100 by the end of the contract's five-year term and immediate pay increases kicking in the moment ratification is confirmed. The total package is su

USTN sat down with Airlines for America (A4A) to get an industry-wide view on some of the most pressing economic issues facing the aviation industry. A4A is the trade association for the leading U.S. airlines, both passenger and cargo, with members including American Airlines, Delta, and United.    This is the second iteration of USTN’s ‘Ask the Expert’ interview series, and we encourage our readers to submit any query they have regarding airline financials for our next resid

The framework for a safer American airspace exists on paper. The politics of building it remain, for now, one vote short. Sixty-seven people died when an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided over the Potomac River in January 2025. Fourteen months later, the legislation designed to prevent it happening again has stalled in the House, defeated not by opposition, but by a last-minute Pentagon withdrawal that cost supporters the two-thirds maj

Robert Isom became CEO of American Airlines in 2022 American Airlines is one of the world's largest carriers. It flies millions of passengers every year, generates tens of billions in revenue, and employs a workforce that spans the globe. So when its own employees publicly declare they have lost faith in the person running the show, it is worth paying attention. CEO Robert Isom, who took the helm nearly four years ago, is now facing what may be the most serious internal leade

American, Delta and United collectively generated over $170 billion in revenue in 2025. Yet for every dollar that comes in, airlines keep just four cents in profit. Understanding how the other 96 cents gets consumed explains why the airline business remains, as Warren Buffett put it, "the worst sort of business … one that grows rapidly, requires significant capital to engender the growth, and then earns little or no money." Here is how a single dollar of airline revenue gets

Our guest has spent over two decades analyzing airline balance sheets, advising institutional investors, national publications and watching carriers rise and fall. They agreed to speak candidly on the condition of anonymity so they could say what they really thought without the constraints of their organization.  Q: Airlines keep posting record or near-record profits, yet every earnings call is full of talk about "discipline"; capacity discipline, cost discipline, capital dis

Shopping for the pilot in your life can feel like navigating through turbulence without a flight plan. Between the technical jargon, the brand loyalties, and that knowing look they give when you suggest another "Remove Before Flight" keychain, it's enough to make anyone want to declare an emergency. But here's the good news: pilots are creatures of habit who genuinely love their gear. Get it right, and you'll be their co-pilot for life. Get it wrong, and well … let’s just sa

The US airline industry is still recovering from the longest government shutdown in history. Airlines are estimated to have lost around $200 million in operating income, while over five million travellers were affected by flight reduction orders across the country. The shutdown significantly disrupted the livelihoods of different federal workers—most notably 13,000 air traffic controllers who continued to work without pay. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy admitted that

Amidst the government shutdown, between October 29 and 31, the Negotiating Committee for the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) met with United Airlines management to commence bargaining for a revised Tentative Agreement (TA).   Although the union described the conversations as “productive,” the statement indicates only that several issues were identified for further discussion at the next round of talks that are scheduled for December 9 to 12. The union also acknowle

During times of crisis, the best of humanity often emerges. As the government shutdown drags into its 40th day—already the longest in U.S. history—values of decency and compassion are being demonstrated by pilots nationwide. Air traffic controllers have been among the workers hit hardest by the federal shutdown, with ATCs set to miss their second government paycheck on Tuesday. However, pilots at both local airports and major national hubs have stepped up to support their avi

Secretary Duffy gave a press conference on Tuesday where he updated reporters on the effects of the shutdown Transport Secretary Sean Duffy delivered his most urgent warning yet about the operational crisis facing aviation. If the government shutdown extends into next week, the Department of Transport will be forced to close critical sectors of U.S. airspace—a move that could critically disrupt life and earnings for US pilots. Speaking directly to Democrats on Tuesday about n

Have you ever wondered what your colleagues are really earning? Thanks to an ongoing pilot shortage that's flipped the bargaining table, US airline pilots have locked in some seriously impressive contracts in recent years. The bottom line? It's never been more lucrative to pursue those captain's wings. But which airline should you choose? Let's break down the numbers. Pilot salaries vary wildly depending on where you are in your career and who you're flying for. First-year pi

As the federal government shutdown enters its third week, a familiar crisis is unfolding across America's skies. Air traffic controllers - who keep millions of passengers safe every day - are once again working without paychecks, and the cracks in the system are showing. On Monday evening, pilots preparing to depart from Hollywood Burbank Airport in California  heard silence from their control tower. Unstaffed due to controller absences, it had simply closed. For several hour

United Airlines CEO told his airline’s pilots that he was going to force American Airlines to de-hub Chicago. United is growing at...

By Alexander Wood When United Airlines flight attendants voted on their tentative agreement, union leadership hailed it as a historic...

On Tuesday the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) unveiled the full conditions of a new pay agreement between United Airlines and its...

Whenever I tell someone I work as cabin crew, I’m instantly bombarded by questions. “Oh, have you met any famous people?” “Is there a...

Whenever I tell someone I work as cabin crew, I’m instantly bombarded by questions. “Oh, have you met any famous people?” “Is there a...

Whenever I tell someone I work as cabin crew, I’m instantly bombarded by questions “Oh, have you met any famous people?” “Is there a...