Tanya Powley

From the Seychelles to Serbia, Etihad Airways has been busy forging its own airline alliance by buying stakes in regional carriers. But the Abu Dhabi-based company’s bold plan to fill its aircraft with partner airlines’ passengers is coming under threat in both Europe and the US, where rivals are complaining of unfair competition from fast-growing Gulf carriers. The issue has become more acute as Etihad, Emirates Airline and Qatar Airways moved over the past decade from being fringe players in…

The battle to buy London City airport for more than £2bn highlights just how sought-after the UK’s main airports have become for overseas investors. Most of the UK’s biggest airports are now owned by a variety of foreign private equity funds and pension groups, with public ownership largely a distant memory. The sale of London City airport — close to the Canary Wharf financial district — to a Canadian-led consortium of pension funds on Friday, continues a trend that has been accelerating durin…

News, analysis and comment from the Financial Times, the worldʼs leading global business publication

IAG to increase capacity as airline focuses on lucrative transatlantic market

News, analysis and comment from the Financial Times, the worldʼs leading global business publication

Airlines in Europe are freezing recruitment and investment in an emergency effort to protect profitability as the coronavirus spreads rapidly around the world, hitting passenger demand. Dutch carrier KLM, part of the Air France-KLM group, is delaying investment in IT and real estate projects, slashing travel expenditure and cutting back on hiring staff. German airline group Lufthansa also announced plans on Wednesday for a hiring freeze, offering unpaid leave to employees and more part-time wor…

News, analysis and comment from the Financial Times, the worldʼs leading global business publication

The crisis engulfing the airline industry deepened on Tuesday as carriers cancelled flights, withdrew earnings guidance and implemented austerity measures to cope with the travel slump caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Scott Kirby, president of United Airlines, said the carrier was bracing for revenues to fall as much as 70 per cent in April and May. “We’re planning for the public concern around the virus to get worse before it gets better,” he said. In the US, American Airlines, Delta Air L…

News, analysis and comment from the Financial Times, the worldʼs leading global business publication

News, analysis and comment from the Financial Times, the worldʼs leading global business publication