Canadian Airlines’ U.S. Woes, Amex’s Biz Travel Buy and IndiGo’s First Long-Hauls
Skift Take
Key Points
- Canadian airlines like Porter and Flair are adjusting strategies due to U.S. trade tensions, with Porter halting U.S. marketing and Flair targeting non-U.S. markets.
- American Express plans to acquire Center, a startup for expense management, aiming to enhance its platform with Center's technology.
- IndiGo announces Amsterdam and Manchester as its first long-haul destinations, aiming to expand its international reach with Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
Summary
Canadian airlines are adjusting their strategies in response to trade tensions with the U.S., with Porter Airlines halting U.S. marketing efforts and Flair Airlines promoting non-U.S. destinations. American Express is acquiring the expense management startup Center to enhance its own services. Meanwhile, Indian airline IndiGo is launching its first long-haul flights to Amsterdam and Manchester, marking a significant step in its international expansion plans.
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Canadian airlines are responding in different ways to trade tensions with the U.S., write Contributor Christine Mao and Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi.
Porter Airlines, Canada’s third-largest airline, has temporarily halted all marketing efforts promoting U.S.-bound trips. Porter President Kevin Jackson anticipates that overall bookings may be lower than initially expected in 2025 due to the rising tensions. Meanwhile, ultra-low-cost carrier Flair Airlines is using the tariffs as fodder for a marketing strategy to increase sales to non-U.S. destinations.
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An Air Canada executive said during a call with analysts in February that the carrier plans to reduce capacity to certain U.S. leisure markets starting this month.
Next, American Express announced plans on Thursday to acquire Center, a startup platform for expense management, writes Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes.
Center says its platform is designed to automate accounting tasks and give businesses real-time visibility into employee spending. American Express said it would work to create an expense management platform using Center’s talent and technology. American Express currently uses third-party platforms, including Concur and Emburse, for its expense management services.
Finally, Indian carrier IndiGo confirmed on Thursday that Amsterdam and Manchester will be its first long-haul destinations, reports Airlines Editor Gordon Smith.
The nonstop routes to both cities from Delhi, which are due to begin in July, will operate three times a week. Smith notes that IndiGo will use Boeing 787-9 planes sourced from Norse Atlantic Airways. IndiGo hinted that it could increase service to the two cities when more Norse planes join its fleet.
Smith adds IndiGo’s launch of long-haul services comes as Indian airlines capture a growing share of the country’s international passenger traffic.
Photo Credit: Planes from Porter Airlines and American Airlines at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in February 2025. Adobe Stock / robin
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