Summary

  • Qantas launched Economy Plus, is upgrading its A330 fleet, and 22 hour-nonstop hits testing 
  • Air New Zealand Skynest are now bookable on 15+ hour flights  
  • Singapore Airlines will retrofit its A350 cabins with more business and first  
  • Cathay Pacific’s Aria Business Class will continue rolling out across the fleet 
  • American Airlines rolled out free Wi-Fi for AAdvantage members 
  • United Airlines have promised big things this year, alongside its expansion of Polaris Studio suites 
  • Lufthansa and Air France will begin rolling out free Wi-Fi across the entire fleets 
  • Major airport expansions across Australia, India, Thaliana, London, Singapore, Duba, and Frankfurt. 

What we’re seeing in 2026 is a lot of smaller shifts adding up. Airlines are investing heavily in cabins, connectivity, and premium experiences, especially on long-haul trips. But they’re also unbundling more of the journey through ancillaries. For business travel programs, that means the true cost of a trip now goes well beyond the base fare.

- Kelly Spencer, Head of Corporate Supply Flight Centre Travel Group

 

Airline updates

Australia and New Zealand

Qantas continues retrofitting its international A330 fleet through 2026. Upgrades include new Project Sunrise economy seats, larger 13.3-inch 4K screens, USB-C power and Bluetooth audio. Free international Wi-Fi, launched on Asia routes in late 2025 will also expand this year. Economy Plus, with extra legroom and priority boarding, is now bookable and Qantas are getting ready to make history with its 22 hour non-stop flight between Sydney and London.  

Air New Zealand launched Skynest, the world’s first lie-flat sleep pods in economy. Six stacked bunks are bookable in four-hour blocks on ultra-long-haul flights (15+ hours), offering a paid rest option for economy travellers. A new option for corporate travellers where business class is out of reach.   
 

Asia

Singapore Airlines will begin a S$1.3 billion A350 cabin retrofit from late 2026. Expect fewer economy seats, but more business and first. Enclosed suites upgraded dining and business class perks previously reserved for first. For business travellers, reduced economy capacity may tighten availability, requiring early bookings but for those whose policies allow for business class, more seats = more choice. 

All Nippon Airways’ new Business Class, The Room FX, enters service on 787-9s in 2026. Free high-speed Wi-Fi is also rolling out across its international 767 fleet. 

Cathay Pacific’s new Aria Business Class with full doors is now flying on key long-haul routes, with wider rollout through 2026.  Asia’s premium travel is next-level, and some travellers may need to revisit what counts as “standard business class” on high-frequency routes. 

 

United States and Canada

American Airlines continues rolling out its A321XLR with enclosed Flagship Suites in business and premium  economy. Fast free Wi-Fi for AAdvantage members also launched across most of the fleet and will continue rolling out in 2026 via AT&T. New long-range narrowbodies will open more city-pair routes, reducing connections and duty of care risk for corporate travel programs.  

United Airlines is set to expand the new Polaris Studio suites offering, with originally debuted earlier this year aboard the airline’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. But they’re not stopping there, they’ve hinted at plans to “shake up” travel throughout 2026. We’re watching this space and will update when we hear more. 

Airlines are expanding revenue streams, adding more ancillaries, and maintaining high load factors with record fleet utilisation. These strategies are helping carriers remain competitive and respond to customer segmentation (aka. The business traveller). IATA Sustainability and Economics Global Outlook, December 2025.

 

Europe, the Middle East and Africa

Lufthansa announced a €600m+ Wi-Fi rollout across its 850-aircraft fleet from mid-2026, making it free for Miles & More status holders. The Future Onboard Experience program also brings changes to the business class cabin, upgraded onboard amenities, and a more personalised experience for all. 

Air France is installing Wi-Fi across its fleet by the end of 2026, free for Flying Blue members. It also partnered with Apple TV to add 45 hours of exclusive streaming content on long-haul flights.  

Qatar Airways is quickly deploying free high-speed Wi-Fi across a large portion of its fleet, with all 777’s equipped and the remaining A350s and 787s to come online throughout the year.  

 

Airport changes 

Major airport upgrades are accelerating in 2026, with a clear focus on faster processing, higher capacity, and smoother transiting. Across Australia, Sydney and Brisbane Airports continue rolling out biometric check-in and smarter security screening, cutting queue times at peak corporate travel hours. Singapore Changi aims to automate up to 95 percent of arrivals using biometrics. Meanwhile Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Istanbul are already operating near-fully biometric passenger journeys. Reducing congestion for high-frequency corporate travellers, improving on-time arrivals and traveller satisfaction. 

In the US, TSA’s Touchless ID will expand to more than 60 airports, including large business hubs like ATL, LAX, JFK and DFW. Canada is following suit, with Toronto Pearson and Vancouver expanding automated border processing and upgraded international terminals. Europe continues its push towards passport-free travel. Heathrow and Gatwick are trialling facial recognition for non-EEA arrivals ahead of wider rollout. 

Large-scale airport projects also move closer to reality. Noida International Airport, Navi Mumbai, Long Thanh International Airport begun phased openings, creating new hubs for fast-growing business corridors. London Gatwick extension was announced and Changi Terminal 5, Hong Kong’s third runway, Manchester’s largest ever expansion, Frankfurt’s Terminal 3 and Dubai’s new airport continues progressing.  

Airports under construction often bring temporary congestion and longer walks from curb to gate, while newly opened terminals can shift preferred routings entirely. Keeping an eye on where capacity is coming online, and where disruption may still sit, helps travel managers plan connections, protect on-time performance, and reduce traveller fatigue. 

A lot is changing, and quickly. This is one space we’re keeping an eye on. 

 

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