Sabre Holdings has bought f:wz, a leading provider of flight planning solutions. This acquisition will enhance Sabre AirCentre Enterprise Operations suite of flight planning products and services.

Southwest Airlines said it is buying AirTran Airways in a $1.4 billion deal that is a combination of cash and Southwest common stock.

Amadeus IT Holding is reportedly seeking a buyer for its European online travel agency Opodo. According to Reuters, JPMorgan has been hired as an adviser and a deal could be announced before year-end.

U.S. network airlines’ profit margin in the second quarter of 2010 was the highest since the second quarter of 2007 and the combined profit margin for the network, low-cost and regional carrier groups was the highest since the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) began tracking this data in 2002.

Carnival Corp. & plc reported net income of $1.3 billion, or $1.62 diluted earnings per share, on revenues of $4.4 billion for its third quarter ended Aug. 31. Net income for the third quarter of 2009 was $1.1 billion, or $1.33 per share, on revenues of $4.1 billion.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) revised its 2010 industry outlook and is now projecting a profit of $8.9 billion, up from the $2.5 billion it forecast in June. But that may be the ceiling for airline profits, at least short term. In its first look into 2011, IATA estimates that profitability will drop to $5.3 billion.