Washington [US], December 31: After a year full of surprises and upheavals, the civil aviation industry in 2026 is expected to enter a rare period of relative stability.
The following are the trends expected to shape civil aviation in 2026 .
The era of "premiumization"
"Luxury experiences, such as in-cabin amenities, airport lounges, and more direct flights, are escalating to their highest levels in decades," CNN reported on December 28, citing a 2026 forecast from the online flight booking website Going.
From American Airlines, JetBlue, and Southwest Airlines to Swiss Air, long-promised luxury amenities like in-flight lounges and premium seating will be rolled out more widely than they were previously on a select few aircraft.
Passengers can pay or redeem reward points to access the opportunity to enjoy a more luxurious and comfortable space in the front cabin of the aircraft.
Devon May, American Airlines' chief financial officer, described 2016 in December as a time to implement initiatives announced years earlier. By mid-2025, the airline had introduced a new Flagship business class seating line along with premium economy seating on Boeing 787s, and on Airbus A321XLRs later that year.
By this time next year, the new products will appear on dozens of aircraft models, including the largest aircraft currently operated by American Airlines, the Boeing 777-300ER, according to Reuters.
In its 2026 outlook report, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) noted that demand for premium flights is experiencing strong growth, particularly in Asia, Europe, and North America.
Transforming the face of airports worldwide.
The civil aviation industry is entering a golden age for airport lounges. Airlines are constantly competing, opening luxurious lounges like JetBlue's BlueHouse in New York City (New York State, USA).
With the impetus from credit card companies in their efforts to attract new customers, airport lounges are becoming more diverse and accessible than ever before.
Airports have also quickly caught on to the trend. Replacing the sterile corridors, bland storefronts, and identical rows of seats are food and retail areas with strong local character, terminals filled with art displays, diverse seating options, and outdoor spaces in some areas.
The architectural firm Gensler (California, USA) calls this vision "an airport lounge for everyone." This concept aims to address the reality that passengers are spending more and more time in airport security areas, which are now significantly improved in terms of amenities and design, and offer numerous opportunities for spending.
Mergers are redrawing the map of aviation.
Major airline groups such as Air France-KLM (headquartered in Paris, France) and Lufthansa Group (Frankfurt, Germany) in Europe, Korean Air (South Korea) in Asia, and Alaska Airlines in the US are all aiming to complete significant merger milestones in 2026. These changes could have a substantial impact on passenger travel in the coming year.
Air France-KLM hopes to finalize its acquisition of SAS Scandinavian Airlines by 2026. This deal would allow SAS to join the transatlantic alliance with Delta Air Lines.
In Frankfurt, Lufthansa Group is pushing ahead with a merger with ITA Airways (Italy). ITA is expected to join Lufthansa's transatlantic alliance alongside Air Canada and United Airlines before the end of 2026.
In Asia, Korean Air aims to complete the merger with Asiana Airlines next year, including consolidating loyalty programs, adjusting flight schedules, and withdrawing Asiana from the Star Alliance.
Meanwhile, in the US, Alaska Airlines is nearing completion of its merger with Hawaiian Airlines.
Geopolitics remains a variable.
Once again, decisions by global leaders will significantly impact the aviation industry in 2026. One notable change is the European Union's new ETIAS travel authorization program. From the fourth quarter of next year, visa-free passengers will still have to register in advance and pay a fee of 20 euros (approximately 620,000 VND), or about 23 USD.
In the US, some proposed changes could increase the risks. The administration of US President Donald Trump may require travelers from visa-exempt countries to provide their social media history for the past five years and a list of email addresses for the past ten years when applying for an ESTA (Electronic Travel Authorization System) permit.
If implemented, aviation analyst Tom Fitzgerald of the multinational investment firm TD Cowen (New York, USA) believes this would pose a risk to tourism to the US, especially in light of the World Cup taking place in the US next year.
Globally, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East are likely to continue impacting airline routes, leading to longer journeys, increased fuel consumption, and higher fares.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
