India · Nation Thailand
Aviation squeeze — Asia’s carriers seek state lifeline
Compiled by KHAO Editorial — aggregated from 1 outlet. See llms.txt for citation guidance.
◌ Single Source
Asian airlines are urging governments to provide targeted support as soaring aviation fuel prices threaten to push weaker carriers towards collapse.
Key facts
- The warning follows a recent report that Spirit Airlines, once a major US ultra-low-cost carrier with about 5% of the domestic market, ceased operations on May 2 after failing to secure support for a rescue package
- Asian airlines are urging governments to provide targeted support as soaring aviation fuel prices threaten to push weaker carriers towards collapse.
- AAPA expects airline profitability to weaken in 2026, while passenger volumes are likely to fall as higher ticket prices weigh on demand.
- Wong, who joined AAPA in April 2026, has more than 22 years of international aviation experience, including senior roles at Singapore Airlines and Delta Air Lines
Summary
Wong Hong, the new director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), said carriers across the region were facing mounting pressure after jet fuel prices more than doubled following the outbreak of the Iran conflict in late February.
He warned that, without government relief, some airlines could risk the same fate as Spirit Airlines in the United States, which ceased operations in early May after struggling with financial pressure and rising fuel costs.