May 07, 2026

Airlines Burn Through $5 Billion as Disney Makes More From Fewer Visitors

5 minutes

Fuel costs hammer airlines, Kayak’s founders launch a new AI travel startup, and Disney proves fewer guests can still mean bigger profits.

On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down the staggering rise in airline fuel spending tied to the Iran war, why the creators of Kayak are betting on conversational AI travel booking with a new venture called Lola, and how Disney’s parks are making more money despite lower attendance.

This episode is presented by Lodgify!

Articles Referenced:

Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG
U.S. Airlines Are Spending Over $5 Billion on Fuel
Kayak Co-Founders Reunite for Booking Holdings AI Startup Lola
Disney’s Q2 Park Spending Up Even as Visitation Falls

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