Could United Airlines and American Airlines actually merge? Are carriers around the globe really suspending routes amid soaring jet fuel costs? And will European airports run out of fuel?
Add those to a fast-growing list of aviation headlines that weren’t on my bingo card for 2026.
Here’s the latest:
A revival of “merger mania” became the talk of the industry last week. That came after reports that United Airlines had broached the possibility of merging with American to Trump administration officials.
It was a stunning headline. A United-American merger would create a carrier so big that it would dwarf all others — both in the U.S. and around the globe. Approving it would also buck decades of precedent on how the government has ruled on “consolidation” in the airline industry.
Indeed, skeptics quickly poured cold water on the “outlandish” idea. Even American eventually issued its own statement that essentially said: “No chance.”
Elsewhere, air travelers are increasingly being hit with route cancellations as the fallout from soaring fuel prices grows.
In the U.S., Delta Air Lines is suspending four routes — two from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and one each from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Raleigh/Durham International Airport (RDU). Air Canada said it would suspend its flights to JFK for about five months. Further afield, carriers around the globe have suspended or canceled scores of routes that became unprofitable thanks to the spike in fuel costs. Most are slated to return after a pause, but if fuel prices don’t come back down … all bets are off.
Travelers have already been hit with a raft of increased fees and fares since the war in Iran began disrupting the world’s fuel supply. The next disruption on the horizon for flyers: Some airports in Europe could run out of jet fuel in “maybe six weeks or so.”
To end on a happier note, both Delta and Air Canada announced swanky cabin improvements. And don’t forget the ones United showed off last month.
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