Airlines

In a bid to elevate its service offerings and improve customer experience, JetBlue Airways has announced plans to inaugurate its first two airport lounges by late 2025. These lounges will be strategically located in New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Boston Logan International Airport, aligning with the airline’s JetForward strategy aimed at

In a concerted effort to rethink the legal responsibilities of travel agencies in the wake of flight cancellations and significant changes, over 250 travel advisors and supplier partners flocked to Washington, D.C. for the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA)’s Legislative Day. The focus was predominantly on a new regulation from the Department of Transportation

In a significant move within the aviation industry, Alaska Airlines has successfully concluded its $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines. This acquisition marks a pivotal point for both airlines, potentially reshaping their operational frameworks and enhancing their market competitiveness. With this merger, the Alaska Air Group has expanded its reach, now operating roughly 1,500 daily

The recent strike by Boeing machinists, sparked by a disputed contract between the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) and Boeing management, has thrown the production of several key aircraft models into disarray. As this industrial action unfolds, the repercussions are set to be felt most acutely by U.S. airlines, which heavily depend

In a significant move for the aviation industry, Alaska Airlines is poised to finalize its $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines. This follows the U.S. Department of Transportation’s conditional approval, granted recently, clearing the way for operational integration. The deal had already progressed favorably through a previous hurdle, as the Justice Department chose not to

In a significant turn of events, Air Canada has reached a tentative labor agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association, averting a potential crisis for Canada’s largest airline. This breakthrough, heralded as a four-year collective agreement, underscores the essential role pilots play in the operations of Air Canada and its subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge. The

The Dominican Republic’s burgeoning airline, Arajet, is positioning itself for a significant expansion into the U.S. market. Under the leadership of CEO Victor Pacheco, the airline hopes to capitalize on a recent Open Skies treaty signed between the U.S. and the Dominican Republic, which aims to simplify travel routes and increase connectivity between the two

The Real ID Act was enacted by Congress in 2005 as a response to the security lapses exposed by the September 11 attacks. Designed to enhance the security standards for state-issued identification, the program aims to ensure that all driver’s licenses and IDs meet stringent federal guidelines. Initially scheduled for full enforcement in May 2023,

The recent announcement of a Department of Transportation (DOT) investigation into the rewards programs of the leading U.S. airlines has ignited a fervent debate among industry stakeholders. While consumer advocacy groups welcome the investigation, skeptics—including executives from within the travel industry—argue that the federal inquiry constitutes an excessive regulatory intervention that distracts from more pressing

In a groundbreaking move set to transform the flying experience, United Airlines has revealed its plans to provide free WiFi across its full fleet, embracing a remarkable technological partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service. With over 1,000 aircraft slated to receive this high-speed wireless connectivity, United is positioning itself as a pioneer in customer service

In an impressive evaluation by Point.me, Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue program has emerged as the leading airline loyalty program worldwide. This ranking, which included 62 different airline programs, aimed to identify those that provide optimal value for consumers—regardless of how often they fly. Notably, Air Canada’s Aeroplan and United MileagePlus rounded out the second and

Southwest Airlines, a stalwart in the aviation industry, has recently found itself in a rather unusual situation. Known for its solid financial performance and customer satisfaction, the airline has now attracted the attention of activist investor Elliott Investment Management. This unexpected turn of events has spurred discussions and speculations about the future of the company.

Southwest Airlines is set to make significant changes to its board of directors in response to pressure from activist firm Elliott Investment Management. This move comes as the airline seeks to address declining margins and stay ahead of evolving consumer preferences in the aviation industry. The upcoming overhaul will see six out of 15 board

Avelo Airlines recently celebrated its first quarterly profit but now faces stiff competition from Breeze Airways at Tweed New Haven Airport in Connecticut. This move has raised eyebrows in the aviation industry as Breeze Airways aims to challenge Avelo’s dominance in the region. Breeze Airways, led by their chief commercial officer Lukas Johnson, is making

The use of devices powered by lithium-ion batteries has become more prevalent in recent years, leading to a rise in overheating incidents onboard airline flights. According to a report released by UL Standards, these incidents have increased by 28% from 2019 to 2023. While still relatively rare, the frequency of these events is concerning. Among

Air Canada is currently facing a significant challenge in its negotiations with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). The two parties are in a legally mandated 21-day cooling-off period that concludes at the end of the day on September 17. Despite efforts to reach an agreement, Air Canada announced that they remain far apart in

The Transportation Department has recently launched an inquiry into the loyalty programs of major U.S. airlines, including American, Delta, Southwest, and United. This probe aims to safeguard customers from potential unfair, deceptive, or anticompetitive practices within the airline industry. The DOT Secretary, Pete Buttigieg, emphasized the growing importance of airline rewards programs in the U.S.

The recent incident of an in-flight engine fire on a Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 has raised concerns about the safety of aircraft in operation. Following this incident, Europe’s aviation safety regulator, EASA, has mandated a one-time fleet inspection of fuel hoses on certain Airbus A350 aircraft. This move comes as a response to the engine

Recently, United Airlines flight attendants made a significant move by voting overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. With more than 90% of union members participating in the vote, it is clear that there is substantial support for potential strike action. However, it is important to note that this authorization does not automatically translate into an immediate

Recently, Turkish Airlines announced that their fares will no longer be available for booking on the Sabre Global Distribution System (GDS) starting from September 1st. This decision has sparked a debate between the airline and Sabre, with each party blaming the other for the failure to reach a content agreement. On one hand, Turkish Airlines’

Scandinavian airline SAS has emerged from the shadows of U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, signaling a new era for the carrier. The European Commission recently gave the green light to SAS’s restructuring plan, paving the way for Air France-KLM to acquire a 19.9% stake in the airline. This development comes just before SAS’s anticipated entry

A meeting has been scheduled for September 9 between Southwest Airlines and Elliott Investment Management. However, tensions remain high as Elliott has also announced plans to move forward with a proxy vote to replace board members unless there is progress in discussions about removing the current chairman and CEO. Elliott’s decision to challenge the current

The looming threat of a pilots‘ strike at Air Canada on September 17 has prompted the airline to take preemptive measures. This comes after the recent strike-authorizing vote by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) on August 22, with an overwhelming 98% approval rate. Negotiations for a new labor contract, which began in June 2023,

Lost or delayed bags can turn a dream vacation or a crucial business trip into a nightmare. The fear of facing such a calamity led IATA director general Willie Walsh to avoid checking a bag for 35 years, as revealed during a speech in Chicago last fall. Recognizing the urgency to address one of the

JetBlue recently announced that it will be discontinuing year-round service to London Gatwick Airport, instead opting for a summer seasonal schedule for flights departing from Boston and New York. This change will see the service between Boston and Gatwick pause on October 1st, while New York-Gatwick flights will pause on October 26th. Both routes are

Alaska Airlines recently achieved a significant milestone in its endeavor to acquire Hawaiian Airlines. Antitrust regulators opted not to challenge the merger on the basis of being anticompetitive, paving the way for further discussions and approvals. The Department of Justice refrained from imposing any conditions on the merger, signifying a positive turn of events for

Southwest Airlines, known for its unique policy of not charging fees for checked bags, has recently conducted a survey to gauge customer sentiment on the possibility of implementing such fees. The airline, which stands out as the only major U.S. carrier without checked-bag fees, initiated this survey to gather feedback from its customers on potential

Boeing has recently faced safety concerns with its 787 Dreamliners after incidents of cockpit seats unexpectedly moving forward. This issue has led to the autopilot system disconnecting, endangering the safety of passengers and crew onboard. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has mandated inspections of both pilot seats on 787s to check for missing or cracked

Delta recently announced new distribution agreements with the three major Global Distribution Systems (GDS), ensuring that travel advisors will have access to full content without any additional surcharges on legacy systems. This move by Delta is aimed at providing better options and convenience for travel advisors when booking Delta flights for their clients. During the

The Department of Justice has given its stamp of approval to Alaska Airlines’ acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, finding that the merger does not violate antitrust laws. This move comes after a thorough review period, during which the two airlines collaborated with the Hawaii attorney general to address any concerns. While the DOJ has given the

The FAA has recently allocated $291 million in grants for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and related technologies. These funds, authorized under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, are aimed at supporting the Biden administration’s ambitious goal of reaching 3 billion gallons of domestic SAF production annually by 2030. This production target represents a significant step towards

The software update by cybersecurity provider CrowdStrike that crashed Microsoft Windows operating systems worldwide on July 19 had a significant impact on major U.S. airlines. Each airline faced its own set of challenges in restoring its operations following the system crash. American Airlines was quick to recover, with only 51 mainline flight cancellations the following

Oregon’s Portland International Airport has recently unveiled the first phase of its impressive new main terminal. The $2.15 billion terminal boasts a variety of upgrades designed to enhance the overall traveler experience. From new check-in areas to wider TSA security screening zones with state-of-the-art equipment, the terminal is a vast improvement from its predecessor. Additionally,

Elliott Investment Management has officially announced 10 nominees for Southwest Airlines’ board of directors. This move is part of their ongoing demand for changes within the carrier’s senior management. The investment firm has been pushing for the removal of Southwest CEO Bob Jordan since June, when they disclosed a significant stake in the company. These

When it comes to organizing group travel, one of the key considerations is the size of the group that the advisor, as well as the ship, can effectively manage. For example, a travel advisor named Freed is currently preparing to take a group of her neighbors on a cruise with Royal’s sister brand, Silversea. Through

Alaska Airlines recently made a strategic investment in JetZero, an aircraft engineering startup with a groundbreaking blended-wing aircraft design. This innovative design has the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions and fuel consumption by up to 50%. By integrating the wings with the fuselage, JetZero’s aircraft boasts a sleeker shape that minimizes aerodynamic drag and

Southern Connecticut is set to witness a fierce competition between two discount airlines, Breeze Airways and Avelo. Both airlines have announced plans to expand their operations in the region, with Breeze introducing 10 new routes from Tweed Airport in New Haven. This move will put them in direct competition with Avelo, the only commercial airline

Implementing New Distribution Capability (NDC) technology has been a challenge for many airlines in the industry, including Finnair. Despite being a strong advocate for NDC, Finnair recently faced difficulties in transitioning away from legacy Edifact GDS technology. In a conversation with Finnair’s officials, they shed light on the struggles and successes of their NDC strategy.

American Airlines CEO, Robert Isom, made headlines during the airline’s Q2 earnings call when he publicly acknowledged the need to rebuild „positive relationships“ with travel advisors. This statement marked a significant shift from American’s previous strategy of aggressively pushing direct distribution and NDC channels, a move that ultimately cost the airline up to $1.5 billion

Expedia Group, ranked No. 2 on Travel Weekly’s Power List, faced challenges in the third quarter due to a softening in demand according to CEO Ariane Gorin. This decline in demand was evident across various sectors of the travel industry, mirroring reports from other industry players. Despite this, the company managed to achieve second-quarter results