UK carrier Jet2 has cut the number of seats on sale this winter and warned that full-year profits will be “towards the lower end” of analysts’ forecasts, citing a “difficult” market and a growing trend for later bookings. Despite a strong summer, in which capacity was up 8% year on year, Jet2 says the trend to book tickets closer to departure has since become “more pronounced”. Given this “less certain consumer environment”, the carrier has reduced the number of seats on sale in winter 2025/26 to 5.6 million from the originally planned 5.8 million. This is still 9% higher than in winter 2024/25, it notes, and the airline will “maintain attractive pricing” to stimulate demand. Jet2 expects earnings before interest and tax for the year ending 31 March 2026 to be "towards the lower end of the consensus range", which goes from £449 million to £496 million. EBIT for the financial year ended 31 March 2025 was £446.5 million. “Although we are currently operating in a difficult market, we have a proven business model, a loyal customer base, a flexible approach to capacity management and our multi award-winning customer services,” states Jet2 chief executive Steve Heapy. “We believe that these factors provide the foundation for a solid financial result this year and for further profitable growth in the years to come.” At midday BST trading in London, Jet2’s share price was down by nearly 14%. The carrier says it will provide a further update at its interim results on 19 November.

JetBlue Airways has revised its third-quarter revenue guidance to reflect strong demand over the summer. The US carrier had previously expected its operating revenue per available seat mile for the quarter to be down 2-6% year on year but now estimates it will drop by a smaller 1.5-4%. It now expects capacity to be either flat or up 1% versus the third quarter of 2024, compared with its previous forecast that capacity would range between a drop of 1% and an increase of 2%. "Demand for air travel remained strong throughout the summer peak," says JetBlue in a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing. "Momentum from earlier in the summer carried forward into August and through the Labor Day holiday, both of which were marked by strength for bookings within 14 days of travel. "As JetBlue continues to focus on improving reliability, strong operational performance in August contributed to better-than-expected revenue performance." Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, the carrier says it "remains encouraged that current trends may carry forward through year-end". JetBlue expects to pay less for fuel in the third quarter than it had previously estimated and says its capital expenditures will be about $325 million – down from its earlier estimate of $375 million.

Spirit Airlines has received US court approval to continue operations while it undergoes its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring in less than a year. The Florida-based carrier again filed for Chapter 11 in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York on 29 August. It followed a November 2024 restructuring process from which the carrier emerged on 12 March. In a 3 September filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Spirit says the court has approved the first-day motions related to its most recent Chapter 11 filing, enabling it to continue operating as normal. "We are pleased to have reached this first milestone in our restructuring process, which will support normal operations as we take decisive action to ensure that Spirit continues delivering the best value in the sky for years to come," states Spirit president and chief executive Dave Davis. "With these approvals in place and access to many new tools now available to us, we can continue to implement our transformation to build a stronger foundation and future for Spirit." The airline notes that it is in "ongoing, productive discussions" with its secured bondholders and revolving lenders, adding that "while the company currently has sufficient liquidity to fund its operations, it continues working productively with its secured noteholders and other stakeholders, including with respect to potential financing that may become necessary". Spirit is in dispute with lessor AerCap, which has written to the carrier alleging that it is in default on 36 undelivered Airbus A320neo-family aircraft – an assertion with which Spirit disagrees. The airline has also disclosed that its shares are being delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. They are set to trade instead on an over-the-counter market. The NYSE took similar action in November 2024 following Spirit's initial Chapter 11 filing.