1. Emirates stays profitable through a six-month shock
The Emirates Group reported a half-year profit before tax of AED 4.1 billion (US$1.1 billion) for April to September 2026. That is down 66% on the same period last year, and revenue fell 12% to AED 66.2 billion (Emirates). The airline carried 21.8 million passengers, 22% fewer than a year earlier, and its load factor fell from 79.5% to 72.0% (Airways Magazine). Demand for premium cabins and a strong cargo business helped support revenue, while jet fuel prices roughly doubled (The National).
WBTF view: Dubai's home carrier stayed profitable through eight months of regional conflict. Firm premium demand is an encouraging sign for corporate travel into and through the Gulf as February approaches.
2. A wave of hoax bomb threats disrupts European flights
On Thursday, about 20 commercial flights in Europe received hoax bomb alerts, the third day of such threats. Fighter jets were scrambled in Italy, France and Bulgaria, three flights were diverted and no explosives were found (AFP). CBS News counted at least 27 affected flights on Thursday alone, and one expert described the pattern as "a very deliberate act" (CBS News). Affected departures included Copenhagen, Dublin, Helsinki, Madrid, Milan and Warsaw (AP).
WBTF view: Even disruption that turns out to be harmless costs time, money and confidence. Tracking travellers in real time and communicating clearly with them are now core parts of duty of care.
3. Amadeus incident exposes airline booking data
Amadeus says it has fixed a vulnerability that left some booking-display data accessible, and that so far there is no evidence that payment or financial data was accessed (New Straits Times). Affected carriers report that the access took place between August 2023 and September 2026 (OpenJaw). Japan Airlines says about 92,000 customers were affected, and passport details may have been exposed for around 2,000 of them (TMC Insight). Singapore Airlines puts its figure at about 46,000 booking records (ITSEC Asia).
WBTF view: Traveller data passes through many systems between booking and boarding. Buyers should be asking every supplier in that chain about its security, not only their travel management company.
4. Qantas says fuel costs will keep pushing fares up
Qantas expects its fuel bill for the six months to 31 December to reach about A$3.75 billion, and it warns that fuel prices will stay high through the 2027 financial year (Business News Australia). The airline plans to cut Qantas and Jetstar domestic flying by a combined 4% in 2027 and will keep adjusting fares, although it says demand remains resilient (Nine).
WBTF view: The fuel shock from the Middle East conflict is now reaching fares and capacity worldwide. Buyers working on 2027 budgets should plan for higher fares, even where demand is unchanged.
5. Travellers expect to travel more in 2027
Navan's eighth annual State of Corporate Travel and Expense report finds that 58% of business travellers expect to travel more in 2027 and 71% expect to attend more meetings and events with colleagues. Disruption is a leading concern for 58% of travellers but for only 31% of managers. In addition, 75% of travellers still sometimes book outside their company's platform (Navan via Morningstar).
WBTF view: The 27-point gap between travellers and managers on disruption is a useful measure of how well travel programmes match what travellers actually experience. It is exactly the kind of gap a room of buyers and suppliers can start to close.
Why this matters for WBTF Dubai, 3 February 2027
Today's stories share a theme: demand is holding up, while risk is coming from more directions, including fuel, airspace, hoaxes and data. The 4th edition of the World Business Travel Forum will bring together 70 to 100 senior buyers, travel managers and suppliers in Dubai on 3 February 2027 to turn these issues into practical decisions for 2027. The 4th edition also sets the agenda for the larger annual World Business Travel Forum later in 2027.
There is no business without business travel.