Cockpit of Lufthansa Airbus airplane at Berlin Tegel airport in Germany, September 11, 2018 (Getty Images)

WHO’S FLYING THE PLANE?

Pilot shortages might only get worse for airlines in years to come

Even with the IATA projecting record sector profits, more pilots reaching retirement age could cause turbulence.

12/10/25 9:49AM

As the International Air Transport Association released its global outlook for air travel on Tuesday, a pitfall mentioned in the report was unfolding on the ground in real time.

The trade body projected some blue-sky results for 2026, with industry revenue forecast to rise 4.5% to ~$1.05 trillion and net profit margins staying at 3.9%. Despite ongoing supply chain issues with jet makers Airbus and Boeing leading to slower aircraft deliveries, stabilized fuel prices and passenger growth have bolstered forecasts for record profits next year.

However, the IATA also pointed toward a rise in labor and maintenance costs due to “pilot shortages, wage inflation, and aging fleets.”

Indeed, India’s biggest airline has been grappling with a stack of flight cancellations just this month after adapting its pilot duty roster to new government “resting hours” rules — since, like many other countries, India is facing a severe pilot shortfall.

Prepare for landing

Concerns about a pilot shortage have mounted in recent years, after the pandemic put training on hold and saw many existing pilots opt to retire early or take voluntary redundancy, The Economist noted back in 2022.

But, as detailed in the IATA report, the labor deficit might only intensify as many holders of active pilot licenses in the US are now approaching 65 — the mandatory retirement age for international commercial pilots.

Mayday heyday

It’s worth noting that the 14.9% share of those 65 years and older reported as active license holders in 2024 (vs. 4.2% in 1999) is likely to include a significant number of private pilots, for which there is no official age cap.

Though the report found that employment in the industry is estimated to exceed prepandemic levels (~3.3 million workers) at the end of this year, shrinking younger cohorts have weakened the replenishment rate. But, despite the swath of pilots required to retire in the coming year, the International Civil Aviation Organization rejected a proposal made by the IATA to raise the retirement age to 67 in October, citing safety concerns.

Still, the demand for pilots is expected to continue soaring, with Boeing forecasting that we might need approximately 660,000 new pilots in the next two decades to keep pace with the growth of air travel. One solution? Autonomous planes, which Merlin, a Boston-based startup, is hoping to provide in place of professionals.

Max Knoblauch6/15/26

Electronic Arts launches a platform to put more ads in its games

Video game publishing giant EA launched a new platform on Monday designed to make the process of selling immersive ad space in its popular games easier.

The company says the platform, called EA Advertising, allows brands to “integrate directly into gameplay through dynamic, real-time placements, from stadium signage to custom in-game content.”

More so than other studios, EA has incorporated advertising into its most popular titles. As Kotaku points out, the company’s ad efforts stretch as far back as 2006. Several of its sports franchises already feature partnerships with brands like Visa, Lowe’s, Red Bull, and PepsiCo.

In-game advertising hasn’t exactly been embraced by fans, but industry experts expect it to ramp up as companies seek more revenue to offset higher games budgets and surging memory costs. EA rival Take-Two has taken a different approach, with CEO Strauss Zelnick recently saying the company was “not at risk of doing brand partnerships” in the forthcoming “Grand Theft Auto VI,” and that ads in full-price games seems “unfair.”

The $55 billion deal to take EA private, led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, is set to close at the end of this month. Being the largest leveraged buyout in history, EA will likely look for more ways to boost revenue to cover interest payments.

Electronic Arts Makes Push for Ad Dollars Tied to Sports

Millie Giles6/11/26

JM Smucker says it sold $1 billion worth of Uncrustables in FY2026

After years of booming sandwich sales, JM Smucker has finally earned a billion-dollar crust.

On Tuesday, the company reported results for fiscal year 2026, highlighting better-than-expected profits driven by higher prices for coffee and sweet baked goods. However, at another point on the earnings call, CEO Mark Smucker pointed to one particularly jammy figure: in line with previous forecasts, the company sold $1 billion worth of its (almost always) crustless sandwiches, Uncrustables, in the last year alone.

Max Knoblauch6/8/26

Paramount reportedly offers concessions to resolve multistate antitrust investigation

Paramount has reportedly offered up some concessions in an effort to prevent an antitrust lawsuit by California and about 10 other states, according to Bloomberg reporting on Monday.

Reuters first reported on the potential suit from a group of unnamed states last week, which could throw a wrench in Paramount’s plans to buy rival Warner Bros. Discovery in a Hollywood megamerger.

The list of concessions is unknown, though Bloomberg previously reported that Paramount is open to divesting some of its kids TV assets to appease EU regulators.

Late last month, reports said US regulators appeared likely to approve the $110 billion merger, following a meeting between Paramount CEO David Ellison and DOJ antitrust staffers.

Paramount Offers Concessions to Head Off State Antitrust Lawsuit

The list of concessions is unknown, though Bloomberg previously reported that Paramount is open to divesting some of its kids TV assets to appease EU regulators.

Late last month, reports said US regulators appeared likely to approve the $110 billion merger, following a meeting between Paramount CEO David Ellison and DOJ antitrust staffers.

$98B ⛽

Max Knoblauch6/8/26

The IATA released its latest financial outlook for the airline industry over the weekend, forecasting a $98 billion jump in the sector’s collective fuel bill. The world’s largest trade group representing airlines expects the oil spike to halve profits by 49% from last year to $23 billion.

The group also expects profit margins to halve year over year, falling from 2025’s 4.2% to 2%. Still, revenue is expected to climb to $1.17 trillion from $1.07 trillion.

A surge in the cost of jet fuel has rocked US and global airlines this year, leading Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, and others to raise fares and ancillary charges like bag fees. Low-cost carriers, which operate on smaller margins, have been squeezed the hardest, resulting in Spirit’s shutdown.

“It’s a tough year for all airlines, especially those whose balance sheets had not yet recovered from COVID. And, of course, for those operating in the Gulf,” said IATA Director General Willie Walsh, who added that demand is holding up and about half of passengers expect to spend more on travel this year. “That bodes well for a strong northern summer peak season. The big unknown is how long travelers and shippers can tolerate the higher costs of connectivity.”