August 19, 2026

News to Know

Why Is Premium Travel More Profitable for Airlines?
SOURCE: QUARTZ, 8/18

Premium cabins — first class and business class — generate more profit for airlines because the revenue they produce per unit of space far exceeds the incremental cost of providing them. A business-class seat typically occupies two to four times the floor space of an economy seat, but the ticket price is often five to 10 times higher. That gap between cost and price is where the margin lives.

AVIATION

These Are the World's Best Airlines According to Flyers – and Asian Carriers Dominate the Rankings (EURONEWS, 8/18)

Turkish Airlines to Resume Cuba Flights (TRAVELMOLE, 8/19)

Ranked: The World's Busiest Airlines by Flights (VISUAL CAPITALIST, 8/18)

American Airlines to Add Seatback Screens, Bigger First Class in Race to Catch Up to Delta and United (CNBC, 8/18)

British Airways Tops Europe's Airline Cost Rankings (TRAVEL DAILY MEDIA, 8/19)

GROUND TRANSPORTATION

All Aboard Amtrak’s Sleeker, Cleaner New Trains (GRIST, 8/19)

OTHER SECTORS

SAP Concur Launches AI Tools for Travel & Expenses (ITBRIEF, 8/19)

Global Travel Leaders Gather in Sarawak as PATA Travel Mart 2026 Opens (TRAVEL DAILY MEDIA, 8/18)

How Women Can Shape the Next Chapter of India’s MICE Industry (VOYAGER'S WORLD, FEATURES GBTA, 8/19)

Industry Spotlight

GBTA WINiT
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Managing travel risk is a critical part of a successful business travel program. GBTA's Travel Risk Management Toolkit provides practical guidance aligned with ISO 31030:2021 to help travel managers, suppliers, and travelers identify, assess, and mitigate travel risks. Organized into easy-to-navigate modules, the toolkit includes detailed overviews and actionable checklists designed to support traveler safety, well-being, and informed decision-making at every stage of the journey.

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