The airline pilot’s version of Alexander Pope’s famous quote might go something like this: “To err is human; to follow the Golden Rules, divine.”

An unprecedented difference of opinion when it comes to building Notre-Dame-des-Landes regional airport could lead to a major and disproportionate crisis of political confidence and prove to be a financial fiasco.

Canceling the A380 program after just a decade of production would be a political catastrophe not only for Airbus, but also for Europe.

After spearheading a multimillion-euro funding package for Alitalia, Etihad Airways must now prove it can restore its new equity alliance member to profitability and revitalize its brand.

By 2035, nearly two million would-be flights—12% of total demand for travel—will never take place because of reduced airport expansion plans.

What a difference a decade makes. In 2004, oil prices surged about 50%, topping a then unheard of $50 a barrel.

The growth potential in many Asia-Pacific markets offers airlines an opportunity unrivaled in any other global region. However, carriers here are also facing the fact that to tap into the expected bonanza, they must remain financially viable in the short term. This is one of the challenges facing most Asian airlines in 2015—growing sufficiently to ensure they can grab their share of the action without creating capacity oversupply. Market data show that the balance tipped too far toward supply in 2014, and now a readjustment is needed.

From the highs of Airbus A350 certification and A320neo first flight to the lows of the MH370 and MH17 losses, here is a review of commercial aviation in 2014.