Airline Industry Watch — 2026-04-09
The airline industry is buzzing with consolidation momentum this week, as U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy signals openness to airline mergers — a reversal of years of regulatory resistance. Meanwhile, Allegiant Air is closing two crew bases as it braces for a potential merger, British Airways is axing 20 routes in a massive network cull, and Malaysia Aviation Group plans to add 10 jets in 2026. A fresh batch of new routes launches globally in April, with China Eastern's first Vienna service among the highlights.
4 min read/15 sources
