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Are airplanes more in need of cooling or heating? The outside temperature at cruising altitude is around -50° (roughly where the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales meet, btw), is the insulation good enough to just keep the inside at acceptable temperatures for humans?

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The article mentions airplanes waiting on the ground, but I do wonder what happens during flight. I suppose the engines create plenty of heat after all.

It does not matter for airplanes. Both cooling and heating are in ample supply on an airplane.

Cooling is in short supply when the aeroplane is parked on the ground. In some climates external air conditioning units are required to maintain a manageable cabin temperature.

Hence why the majority of airline fleets have white-painted upper fuselages.

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