Airlines

Alaska Airlines has recently announced plans to increase the number of first-class seats on Boeing 737-800 aircraft and its Premium Class extra-legroom seats on 737-900ER and 737-9 Max planes. This decision comes as premium products continue to outperform coach seats across the airline industry. With a reported year-over-year revenue increase of 8% for first class

United Airlines faced a shrinking profit margin in the second quarter due to industrywide domestic overcapacity driving down fares and leading to more empty seats on aircraft. The financial challenges faced by discount U.S. carriers played a significant role in this decline. United executives expressed confidence that the situation would improve in mid-August as airlines

Spirit Airlines is facing challenges in the second quarter as it anticipates worse-than-expected results. The airline now expects an adjusted operating loss between $160 million and $173 million, which is higher than the initial guidance provided in early May. Additionally, the operating margin is projected to be between minus-12.5% and minus-13.5%, indicating a significant decline

American Airlines’ AAdvantage Business program has recently made a significant change by awarding miles and loyalty points for bookings made via travel agencies. This change, implemented on July 16, reverses American’s previous policy of only rewarding AAdvantage Business participants for direct bookings. This marks a shift in their strategy since last October when American rebranded

American Express is once again elevating the airport lounge experience with the opening of their 29th Centurion Lounge at Washington Reagan National Airport on July 17. What sets this lounge apart is the collaboration with three renowned chefs: Michelle Bernstein, Ravi Kapur, and Michael Solomonov. Unlike any other Centurion Lounge, this location will feature dishes

Delta recently implemented a new policy regarding the pins that employees can wear on their uniforms. The airline announced that the U.S. flag is now the only pin allowed to represent a country or nationality on their uniforms. According to Delta, this change was necessary due to the growing confusion surrounding nationality flags and potential

The departure of Vasu Raja from American Airlines came with a significant severance package. As per the termination agreement, Raja will be receiving a substantial seven-figure payout, along with some travel privileges. His termination is set to be effective from June 30, and he will continue to receive his base salary until Jan. 31, amounting

The onset of Mexican President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration has sparked optimism from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) regarding improved aviation relations between the U.S. and Mexico. However, there is concern about the alignment of Sheinbaum’s policy goals with those of her predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. This continuity in policy could potentially hinder the

A fierce competition is currently underway among eight major airlines for the opportunity to secure five additional daily roundtrip slot pairs at Washington Reagan National Airport. These coveted slots are part of the new five-year FAA reauthorization signed into law by President Biden in May. American, United, Delta, Alaska, Southwest, JetBlue, Spirit, and Frontier have

The U.S. Department of Transportation has recently released complaint data related to the air travel industry, revealing an alarming trend in the number of submissions received in 2023. The data shows a significant increase in complaints compared to the previous year, with nearly 96,900 submissions in 2023 as opposed to more than 86,000 in 2022.

Delta Airlines is currently considering the possibility of unbundling its forward cabin offerings, according to statements made during the airline’s second-quarter earnings call. The Delta president, Glen Hauenstein, hinted at a significant announcement that may be coming soon. This move could potentially change the way passengers experience flying with Delta, and it has sparked interest

The European Commission has officially approved the proposed acquisition of Italian flag carrier ITA Airways by Lufthansa Group. This deal, which was announced in May 2023, will allow Lufthansa Group to acquire an initial 41% stake in ITA Airways for 325 million euros, with the option to purchase the remaining shares starting in 2025. This

Regional carrier Mesa Airlines recently made the decision to furlough twelve pilots and halt training for 41 incoming pilots, signaling a potential shift in the pilot shortage that has plagued the industry since the end of the pandemic. This move comes as a direct result of hiring freezes and reductions at major carriers, who often

Alaska Airlines is set to expand its winter seasonal route network by introducing flights to the famous Colorado skiing destination of Vail. The airline will operate three-times weekly flights from both Seattle and San Diego to Vail between December 20 and March 16. These flights will be serviced by an Embraer E175 regional jet, offering

Delta Airlines recently made headlines by entering into an exclusive partnership with Riyadh Air, a Saudi carrier set to begin service in 2025. This agreement, signed in Atlanta, marks the beginning of what promises to be a significant collaboration between the two airlines. The memorandum of understanding between Delta and Riyadh Air outlines plans for

Southwest Airlines recently made a strategic move by appointing Rakesh Gangwal, a co-founder of India’s largest carrier, IndiGo, to its board of directors. This decision comes in response to pressure from the activist investor group Elliott Management, which has been critical of Southwest’s lack of board members with experience in the airline industry outside of

This summer, the airline industry is experiencing a surge in passenger numbers, setting new records for the number of customers being transported. The trade group Airlines for America (A4A) projects that U.S. carriers will ferry a whopping 271 million passengers from June through August, which is a 6% increase from last year’s already record-breaking numbers.

In response to activist investment firm Elliott Management’s aggressive tactics, the Southwest Airlines board of directors has taken decisive action by adopting a one-year rights plan, commonly referred to as a poison pill. This move is designed to thwart Elliott’s efforts to increase its ownership stake in the company, which currently stands at 11% as