Behind the mesh curtain: Why airline class wars will intensify in 2026

Planes line up on the tarmac at LaGuardia Airport on November 10, 2025 in New York City.Spencer Platt | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesFrom Spirit Airlines' fight for survival to American Airlines' planned glow-up, from new international routes and brand-new airport lounges to stingier frequent flyer policies, class divides in the sky will intensify in 2026.Airlines went into 2025 upbeat: Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian forecast a record year for the century-old carrier. But concerns about President Donald ...