The next iPhone Air could receive significant upgrades.

A rumored dual-camera setup might fix the flaw that’s kept you from upgrading.
The current Air features a single 48MP sensor. Despite Apple's marketing, this is still just one lens. This, along with a smaller battery, may explain the Air's lower-than-expected sales. A camera upgrade could give the next model a needed boost.
Apple is still invested in the Air. Adding another camera indicates Apple believes a stronger feature set could encourage consumers to spend $1,000 on it. Currently, the Air's sleek design isn't enough to justify its cost.
Slim phones such as the Air or Galaxy S25 Edge are visually appealing, but compromising on specs for appearance has been unsuccessful. Sales figures show that these compromises are detrimental. If Apple includes better cameras while maintaining the slim design, that could be a game changer.
There is still time before the iPhone Air 2 is released, so plans could change. However, a better camera setup appears to be a logical step. Additionally, if Apple uses silicon-carbon batteries, the phone could have a much larger battery and improved cameras.
Upgrading both the camera and battery could provide the Air with the boost it requires.