Just last week, we cast the spotlight on how the ongoing global crisis has significantly impacted the commercial aviation sector, specifically low-cost carriers that are facing operational challenges that could lead to their demise, as in the case of Spirit Airlines.
But let us recall that commercial aviation isn’t just about low-cost carriers; full-service airlines remain the backbone of the industry and, in recent years, they have begun to experience as a resurgence.
Today’s budget-conscious travellers are seeking more value for their money and the rise of experiential travel is also driving younger generations to turn away from no-frills flying to make the most of their in-flight experiences.
However, given the rising cost of jet fuel due to both geopolitical and socioeconomic issues, even these longtime stalwarts of commercial aviation are feeling the crunch.
With issues ranging from fuel prices to supply chain bottlenecks, how well is the full-service airline sector coping with current circumstances and how can these maintain both integrity and profitability?
The problem with men and machines
Immediately following the pandemic years, full-service and low-cost carriers all encountered capacity constraints driven by supply chain issues, especially when it came to the delivery of new aircraft, as well as that for vital spare parts for routine maintenance.
This forced many full-service carriers to keep carrying on with older aircraft, a number of which were already beyond their end-of-service period.
In turn, this drove up operational costs as airlines were challenged to find viable parts for older planes, as well as the dearth of those trained in their maintenance as the pandemic also impacted the human resources side of operations.
Since we have opened the subject of human resources, airlines have needed to deal with higher labour costs prompted by inflation running at a rapid clip, as well as the way additional training for staff is cutting into operational budgets.
Digital threats
Even the widespread adoption of relevant technologies poses its own issues for full-service airlines.
Not even airlines with top of the line cybersecurity measures in place are immune to the possibility of an online threat.
Today’s hackers are bold and will find ways to exploit weaknesses they find even in strong-seeming systems to target passenger data or compromise operations.
While national governments have been cracking down on cybersecurity threats, airlines cannot relax their vigilance to maintain passenger safety and overall security.
What of sustainability?
With jet fuel prices soaring to close to astronomical levels, full-service carriers are actively seeking alternatives, especially those which can also boost their score as green companies.
But even this poses issues of its own, especially where costs are concerned.
As of February 2026, it has been noted that sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the much-touted green alternative to conventional jet fuels, costs at least twice as much as regular fuels.
Furthermore, the SAF sector is still struggling to meet the global demand and total output as of end-2025 was pegged at just 1.9 million tonnes.
But, as with anything, there is a light at the end of the tunnel: we have previously pointed out how the demand for premium air travel is on the rise; this is something we see growing despite current circumstances.
Also, as stated above, we cannot discount the growing demand for meaningful experiences and accessible luxury: two things that have long been hallmarks of full-service commercial aviation.
