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Platts worldwide jet fuel

Tonne $1,250.09

Liter $1.25

Gallon $3.77

Barrel $158.30

2026 May 06

Daily Airline News

Airline Trends & Performance

Markets · Frontiers · Forecasts

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Markets

World’s busiest airports 2026 May

2026 May 06

According to Cirium, 2-way flights and top airline during 2026 May: Chicago ORD 82k United 50%, Atlanta ATL 69k Delta 81%, Dallas DFW 63k American 86%, Denver DEN 59k United 56%, Guangzhou CAN 46k China Southern 46%, Charlotte CLT 45k Amercian 90%, Shanghai PVG 44k China Eastern 31%, Los Angeles LAX 43k Delta 22%, Delhi DEL 42k Indigo 40%, Istanbul IST 42k Turkish 80%.

Forecasts

Flight attendant shortage

2026 May 06

Aviation industry estimated need for 600k new cabin crew, globally; currently in US, around 111k flight attendants with need for 19.4k or +11.4% more by 2032, especially for double crews to comply with 12+ hour flight regulations.

Markets

Airline time vocabulary

2026 May 06

Airline time vocabulary, nominated ‘zulu time’ aka GMT Greenwich Mean Time, commonly used by aviators worldwide esp pilots and controllers; standardized time, with no adjustment for DST, assigned as UTC Coordinated Universal Time in 24 one-hour latitude zones proceeding around globe from east to west starting at Prime Meridian 0 degrees latitude in United Kingdom as UTC+1 until UTC+12 at IDL International Date Line 180 degrees latitude near Fiji then UTC-12 to UTC-1 ending at Prime Meridian, beginning 0001 one minute after 12 midnight 0000 and ending 2359 one minute before 12 midnight 2400.

Markets

China e-commerce 2026 Mar

2026 May 06

According to Aevean, China e-commerce volume -6% during 2026 Mar, largely result of de minimus exemption withdrawal and ME crisis; first YoY decline since 2023, during consumer spending slowdown; 2026 Mar: China to NAM -24%, MESA -45%, APAC -9%, EUR +27%, LAC +31%, AFR +79%.

Markets

Airlines capacity cuts 2026 May

2026 May 06

According to Cirium, airlines worldwide cut capacity for 2026 May, removing around 2m seats and over 13k flights from schedules; total global seat capacity during 2026 Apr, airlines removed 2m seats; due to jet fuel supply and price, airlines responding by trimming routes, reducing frequencies, deploying smaller aircraft.

Markets

Engine demand resilient

2026 May 06

Willis Lease Finance advises demand for leased aircraft engines strong during 2026 Q1, as airlines perserve liquidity and avoid shop visits; WLF indicated prolonged fuel pressure accelerant for aircraft retirements while engine values remain relatively resilient, noting growth driven by higher utilization across engine portfolio.

Markets

Glossary highlight: Fuel surcharge

2026 May 06

Fuel surcharge, imposed as charge or credit by airline on charterer, relative to base price of fuel contracted and consumed by aircraft operating charter flight(s); when fuel price more than contracted rate, airline charges charterer and when fuel price less than contracted rate, airline credits charterer.

Markets

APAC passenger airport experience

2026 May 06

According to Airport Dimensions, AsiaPacific passengers demo strongest growing engagement with premium services, such as airport lounge use at 73% for India Vietnam vs global average 52%; also, APAC travelers at Beijing Singapore hubs spend up to 180% above market average.

Airline Plans & Changes

Status · Fleet · Intent