Travel Updates by DailyStraits.com

BA Opens Pilot Academy

British Airways has opened applications for its fully funded Speedbird Pilot Academy for the fourth consecutive year, committing £18 million to support up to 160 aspiring pilots.
The airline said the programme covers the full £100,000 cost of pilot training over two years, with successful candidates guaranteed a flying role upon completion. Applications opened on April 14 and will close on April 23, with tens of thousands of applicants expected.
Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Chairman and Chief Executive, said: “The Speedbird Pilot Academy is an investment not just in British Airways, but in the future of UK aviation.
“We want the very best talent out there for our future generation of pilots; by removing the costs, we’re opening the opportunity up to more people and making a flying career more accessible to all.”
British Airways said applicants must be aged between 17 and 58, hold required academic qualifications and a valid passport permitting unrestricted worldwide travel. Successful candidates will train with approved partners before progressing to a career on the flight deck.

Qantas Warns Fuel Costs

Qantas has revised its FY26 outlook, warning that jet fuel prices have more than doubled amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East, pushing estimated second-half fuel costs to between $3.1 billion and $3.3 billion.
The airline said it has hedged about 90 per cent of crude oil exposure for the second half but remains vulnerable to higher jet refining margins, which have surged from around US$20 per barrel in February to about US$120. Qantas added it is working closely with government and suppliers, who remain confident in fuel supply through April and into May.
To manage rising costs, the group has made international network changes, reduced domestic capacity in the fourth quarter by about five percentage points and increased fares. Qantas said it continues to see strong demand for travel to Europe and has redeployed capacity to boost flights to Paris and Rome.
The airline said FY26 capital expenditure is now expected to be at or below $4.1 billion, while a planned $150 million share buyback has not commenced due to ongoing volatility. Qantas added it will provide a further update on its FY27 outlook at a later date.

Korean Air Q1 Surges

Korean Air posted record first-quarter revenue of KRW4.52 trillion for Q1 2026, up 14 per cent year-on-year, while operating profit rose 47 per cent to KRW516.9 billion.
The airline said passenger revenue reached KRW2.61 trillion, supported by strong Lunar New Year travel demand and solid performance on European and transit routes. Cargo revenue rose to KRW1.09 trillion, helped by expanded fixed-volume contracts and flexible charter operations on high-demand routes in the Americas.
Korean Air said it would focus more on overseas and transit demand to offset weaker domestic outbound travel as geopolitical tensions continue to affect fuel prices and exchange rates. The cargo division will also target seasonal volumes and high-growth sectors such as AI-related industries and K-beauty.
The airline added that it introduced company-wide cost reduction measures in April as part of efforts to strengthen its financial structure and support long-term growth.

Airlines Unite For Charity

Korean Air and Asiana Airlines have held a joint charity running event in Incheon, bringing together 1,500 employees ahead of the carriers’ planned integration.
The “We Run” event, sponsored by Boeing, featured 5km and 10km courses and was designed to foster unity between staff from both airlines while supporting local communities. Participants included flight attendants, administrative staff and philanthropist and singer Sean.
“Today’s run is not just about reaching the finish line, but about moving forward together as ‘One Team,’” said Keehong Woo, Vice Chairman of Korean Air.
“When our employees come together with a collaborative mindset, it will elevate our standards of safety and service and support our ambition to become the world’s most loved airline.”
The event also raised KRW30 million for Make-A-Wish Korea, with employees contributing a combined 8,495km through in-person and virtual participation.