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☆ Airlines seek extension to cuts in minimum flight requirements at New York-area airports
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Major U.S. airlines on Monday asked the Federal Aviation Administration to extend cuts to minimum flight requirements at congested New York City-area airports and a Washington airport, citing a lack of adequate air traffic control staffing. Airlines can lose their slots at congested airports if they do not use them at least 80% of the time. In the Airlines for America letter, the group said air traffic control staffing and extreme weather "are unique circumstances beyond our control." In June, a government audit said the FAA faces critical air traffic staffing shortages and "lacks a plan to address them." Last summer there were 41,498 flights from New York airports where air traffic control staffing was a contributing factor in delays.

Persons: John F, Eduardo Munoz, David Shepardson, Leslie Adler, Matthew Lewis, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Kennedy International, REUTERS, Major U.S, Monday, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Washington National Airport, Airlines for America, Reuters, Airlines, Newark Liberty International Airport, New, Philadelphia, America, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Major, Washington, New York, Chicago, Newark

☆ Sluggish return of business travelers forces US airlines to rejig their networks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Rajesh Kumar Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Before the pandemic hit in 2020, corporate travel was the travel industry's cash cow. Investors in travel companies are concerned that the spending from vacationers cannot make up the shortfall. For months, Alaska Air's (ALK.N) business bookings have been 25% below pre-pandemic levels. JetBlue Airways (JBLU.O) said on Tuesday it will redeploy capacity away from New York to high-margin leisure destinations with business travel demand 20% below pre-pandemic levels. Recent passenger screening and fare data shows U.S. travel demand has peaked, hurting the carriers' pricing power.

Persons: Ronald Reagan, Kevin Lamarque, Shane Tackett, Bob Jordan, Kevin Kopelman, Luis Gallego, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Doyinsola Oladipo, Sarah Young, Joanna Plucinska, David Gaffen, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, REUTERS, U.S, Investors, Airlines for America, Reuters, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Marriott, MasterCard, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, NYSE, Cowen, British Airways, IAG, Google, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: Ronald Reagan Washington, Arlington , Virginia, U.S, Alaska, Seattle, Mexico, Costa Rica, California, New York, Asia, Pacific, Europe, Chicago, London

☆ Aviation bill upping pilot retirement age to 67 passed by US House
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The vote in the Republican-led House was 351-69 to pass the bill that would reauthorize U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety and infrastructure programs for the next five years. The Air Line Pilots Association has said hiking the retirement age could cause airline scheduling and pilot training issues and require reopening pilot contracts. The White House said this week it opposed a House bill provision that would rescind a 2012 Transportation Department regulation requiring airlines to advertise full fares including government fees and taxes. The House measure would bar airlines from charging fees to allow families to sit together on flights. The House opted to retain pilot training rules that were adopted after a 2009 fatal passenger airplane crash near Buffalo.

Persons: Joe Biden, David Shepardson, Will Dunham, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S . House, Senate, Republican, . Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Air Line Pilots, Regional Airline Association, Transportation, Washington Reagan National Airport, Delta Air Lines, Airlines for America, Democratic, Colgan Air, U.S, Thomson Locations: United States, Buffalo

☆ U.S. House passes aviation bill upping pilot retirement age to 67
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Air Line Pilots Association has said hiking the retirement age could cause airline scheduling and pilot training issues and require reopening pilot contracts. The White House said this week it opposed a House bill provision that would rescind a 2012 Transportation Department regulation requiring airlines to advertise full fares including government fees and taxes. The House measure also did not include a provision sought by President Joe Biden to compensate passengers for delays or set minimum airline seat sizes. The House measure would bar airlines from charging fees to allow families to sit together on flights. The House opted to retain pilot training rules that were adopted after a 2009 fatal passenger airplane crash near Buffalo.

Persons: Joe Biden Organizations: United Airlines, Newark Liberty International Airport, U.S . House, Senate, Republican, . Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Air Line Pilots, Regional Airline Association, Transportation, Washington Reagan National Airport, Delta Air Lines, Airlines for America, Democratic, Colgan Air, U.S Locations: Newark , New Jersey, United States, Buffalo

☆ Airline stocks set for best month in two years on summer rush, lower fuel prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Medha Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 30 (Reuters) - U.S. airline stocks on Friday were set to record their strongest monthly performance since 2021, helped by easing fuel prices and signs of robust travel demand during the summer season. The outlook for the rest of summer months is also bright. The S&P 1500 airlines (.SPCOMAIR) has jumped 21.3% so far in June, the highest since February 2021 and far ahead of the S&P 500's (.SPX) 5.2% rise. However, Raymond James analyst Savanthi Syth expects air travel demand to moderate in the second half, given the high level of uncertainty and limited visibility into the fall. Shares of United Airlines and Delta trade 5.2 and 7.0 times forward profit estimates, respectively, well below S&P 500's (.SPX) multiple at 19.1.

Persons: Russ Mould, Raymond James and, Raymond James, Savanthi Syth, Matthew Tuttle, Joby, Morgan, Medha Singh, Arun Koyyur Organizations: U.S, Airlines, America, Bell, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Raymond James and Bank of America, Delta, Tuttle Capital Management, Joby Aviation, Thomson Locations: United States, Bengaluru

☆ Deadline for airline retrofits could impact
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Multiple US air carriers told CNN Thursday that they will be able to meet the deadline. It added that all of its widebody aircraft will have the upgraded equipment by the deadline. The Regional Airline Association, meanwhile, said that most of its members’ planes were retrofitted ahead of a deadline last fall, and that they have plans to retrofit the remaining planes. That delay followed an even earlier postponement negotiated by the wireless carriers and the aviation industry, which had raised broad concerns that 5G signals might affect air travel. The deadline comes after a week of heavy flight disruptions linked to weather that are beginning to subside, with the exception of United.

Persons: Pete Buttigieg, ” Buttigieg, Buttigieg, CNN’s Gregory Wallace Organizations: New, New York CNN, Verizon, Transportation, Airlines for America, CNN, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Delta, Regional Airline Association Locations: New York, Delta

☆ US warns of potential 5G delays for airplanes without updated altimeters
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Last year, Verizon VZ.N and AT&T T.N voluntarily agreed to delay some C-Band 5G usage until July as air carriers worked to retrofit airplane altimeters. Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) said Friday its supplier told the airline it would not have enough radio altimeters for Delta’s entire fleet by July 1. Approximately 190 Delta narrowbody aircraft are not yet equipped with updated radio altimeters including all A220s, most A319s and A320s, and some A321s. All Delta widebody aircraft will be equipped with updated radio altimeters prior to July 1, the airline said. Reuters first reported in March that major U.S. wireless carriers agreed to some voluntary actions to address aviation safety concerns.

Persons: Robert Bryan, Read, Pete Buttigieg, Buttigieg, T.N, David Shepardson, Chizu Organizations: Eagle Aviation, Columbia Metro, . Transportation, Airlines for, Verizon, Carriers, Air Lines, Delta, Reuters, Mobile, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Thomson Locations: West Columbia, South Carolina, U.S, WASHINGTON, Airlines for America

☆ US Senate leaders unveil $107 bln aviation policy bill
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, June 12 (Reuters) - Leaders of the Senate Commerce Committee on Monday introduced a bipartisan aviation policy bill that would boost runway safety, track high-altitude balloons and prohibit airlines from charging fees for families to sit together. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, a Democrat, top Republican Ted Cruz and the aviation subcommittee leaders -- Senators Tammy Duckworth and Jerry Moran -- proposed a $107 billion five-year Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill. The Senate bill "requires the FAA to increase runway safety by deploying the latest airport surface detection equipment and technologies." The Senate bill would ban family seating fees as does the House bill. The Senate bill would require refund request buttons at the top of their websites and double USDOT statutory civil penalties for aviation consumer violations from $25,000 to $50,000 per violation.

Persons: Maria Cantwell, Ted Cruz, Tammy Duckworth, Jerry Moran, Cantwell, Joe Biden's, Mark Kelly, David Shepardsond, Jonathan Oatis, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Senate, Democrat, Aviation Administration, FAA, Washington National Airport, National Transportation Safety Board, Transportation Department, airline, Airlines for, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, U.S, Thomson Locations: Airlines for America

☆ Newly approved US flights by Chinese airlines avoid Russian airspace
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, June 1 (Reuters) - Chinese airlines are avoiding flying over Russian airspace in newly approved flights to and from the United States, according to flight tracking website FlightAware and industry officials. Russia has barred U.S. airlines and other foreign carriers from flying over its airspace, in retaliation for Washington banning Russian flights over the U.S. in March 2022 after the country invaded Ukraine. FlightAware records show Chinese flights recently approved by Washington are not flying over Russia, while previously approved Chinese airline U.S. flights are still using Russian airspace. Previously, only eight weekly flights by Chinese carriers were allowed. The 12 weekly flights are a small fraction of the more than 150 round-trip flights allowed by each side before restrictions were imposed in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Persons: International Affairs Annie Petsonk, Biden, Petsonk, USDOT, David Shepardson, David Gregorio Our Organizations: U.S, U.S . Transportation Department, Aviation, International Affairs, Air China, China, Xiamen Airlines, China Southern, Embassy, Airlines for, Thomson Locations: United States, Russia, Washington, Ukraine, Beijing, China, New York, Shanghai Los Angeles, Xiamen, Los Angeles, Guangzhou, U.S, Airlines for America

The U.S. Department of Transportation did not specify how much cash it aims to require airlines to pay passengers for significant delays. But it asked carriers last year whether they would agree to pay at least $100 for delays of at least three hours caused by airlines. A July 2021 proposal to require airlines to refund consumers fees for baggage that is delayed, or onboard service like Wi-Fi that do not work, are still not finalized. The Transportation Department said it plans to write regulations that will require airlines to cover expenses such as meals and hotels if carriers are responsible for stranding passengers. In October, Reuters first reported major U.S. airlines opposed Transportation Department plans to update its dashboard to show whether carriers would voluntarily compensate passengers for lengthy delays within airlines' control.

It is the latest in a series of moves by the Biden administration to crack down on airlines and bolster passenger consumer protections. "When an airline causes a flight cancellation or delay, passengers should not foot the bill,” U.S. Transportation Secretary (USDOT) Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. Most carriers voluntarily committed in August 2022 to providing hotels or meals but resisted providing cash compensation for delays. The Biden administration has sparred with U.S. airlines over who was to blame for hundreds of thousands of flight disruptions last year. In October, Reuters first reported major U.S. airlines opposed USDOT plans to update its dashboard to show whether carriers would voluntarily compensate passengers for lengthy delays within airlines' control.

☆ Biden administration OKs boost in Chinese airline flights to US
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

USDOT's order said its goal was "a gradual, broader reopening of the U.S.-China air services market." U.S. carriers American Airlines (AAL.O), Delta Air Lines (DAL.N), and United Airlines (UAL.O) operate scheduled passenger services between the countries, as do Chinese operators Xiamen Airlines, Air China (601111.SS), China Southern Airlines (600029.SS) and China Eastern Airlines (600115.SS). USDOT noted American began operating two additional roundtrip weekly flights to Shanghai from Texas in March after Chinese pandemic restrictions were dropped. USDOT said in its order that Chinese restrictions on air travel "had, and continue to have, a devastating effect on the U.S.-China air transport market." In February, two key senators issued a letter urging the Biden administration to halt Chinese airlines and other non-American carriers from flying over Russia on U.S. routes, which gives them an advantage in fuel burn and flying time.

☆ Some airlines effectively charge parents to sit with their kids. Biden is shaming the industry into changing that.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Consumer groups and President Joe Biden are aghast that carriers have effectively charged families more to sit together. No airline explicitly imposes a "family seating fee," but consumer advocates have complained for years about how that's exactly what's happening. Airlines for America, an industry lobbying arm that counts the big four, America, Delta, Southwest, and United, among its members, previously pointed out that none of its members explicitly charge a family seating fee. This is a March 24, 2023 screenshot of the Department of Transportation's dashboard of airline family seating policies. Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts is working with a trio of other Senate Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, on separate legislation on just family seating.

☆ Delta bets on premium travel as 'shock absorber' for economic downturn
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Rajesh Kumar Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/5] Delta Airlines passenger jets are pictured outside the newly completed 1.3 million-square foot $4 billion Delta Airlines Terminal C at LaGuardia Airport in the Queens borough of New York City, New York, U.S., June 1, 2022. REUTERS/Mike SegarCHICAGO, April 12 (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) is doubling down on more profitable premium travel as it looks to shore up its defenses against an economic downturn. Chief Executive Ed Bastian told Reuters the U.S. carrier will have premium seats on every plane it flies starting this summer. Rivals United Airlines (UAL.O) and American Airlines (AAL.O) are also chasing premium revenue. CHANGING TRAVEL PATTERNSThe quest for premium revenue has its underpinnings in the post-pandemic travel patterns.

☆ United will cut some New York-area, D.C. flights after US waiver
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Daily flights between Newark and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will drop to 10 from 18. Daily departures from New York LaGuardia Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport will decrease to six from nine. United could cut more flights beginning in June. Airlines have already cut about 10% of scheduled flights this spring to address performance issues, said trade group Airlines for America. Last summer air traffic control staffing was a factor in delays of 41,498 flights from New York airports, the FAA disclosed in March.

☆ American Airlines will cut some New York flights this summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, April 3 (Reuters) - American Airlines (AAL.O) said Monday it will join other major carriers in temporarily cutting some New York City area flights this summer after the Federal Aviation Administration temporarily relaxed some minimum flight requirements. Air travelers could face another rough summer as carriers struggle to meet burgeoning flight demands after the pandemic. The airline added "it is disappointing to reduce flights for customers as they plan their summer holidays and as New York City works to rebound from the pandemic." Airlines have already cut about 10% of scheduled flights this spring to address performance issues, said trade group Airlines for America. Last summer air traffic control staffing was a factor in delays of 41,498 flights from New York airports.

☆ U.S. FAA cuts airlines' minimum flight requirements at NY, Washington airports
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. aviation regulator said on Wednesday it will temporarily cut minimum flight requirements for airlines at congested New York City-area airports and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to address summer congestion issues, citing air traffic controller staffing levels. Passengers and regulators have expressed outrage while airlines said the FAA needed more staffing. Airlines can lose their slots at congested airports if they do not use them at least 80% of the time. The FAA expects airlines to take actions minimizing impacts on passengers, including operating larger aircraft and ensuring passengers are informed about any possible disruptions. Last summer there were 41,498 flights from New York airports where air traffic control staffing was a contributing factor in delays.

☆ Biden seeks new funding for air traffic controllers, Amtrak
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Monday released details on a new proposal calling for more funding for more air traffic controllers and to speed modernization efforts after a computer outage led to the first nationwide flight grounding since 2001. The Transportation Department's $108.5 billion budget request seeks funding from Congress, including $117 million to hire another 1,800 air traffic controllers in addition to another 1,500 being hired this year. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said last year the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had 1,500 fewer controllers than in 2011. The Transportation Department wants $3.1 billion in annual funding for passenger railroad Amtrak on top of $4.4 billion in funding from the $1 trillion 2021 infrastructure law. The FAA wants $24 million to fund 50 new test pilots, data scientists, safety inspectors and others to oversee Boeing (BA.N) and other airplane manufacturers.

☆ Biden administration wants Congress to bar airlines from charging family seating fees
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Carlos BarriaWASHINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Monday asked U.S. lawmakers to approve legislation to bar airlines from charging family seating fees if adjacent seats are available during booking. The bill would direct airlines to offer refunds or seats on another flight if adjacent seats were unavailable under certain conditions. Last week, American Airlines(AAL.O), Alaska Airlines(ALK.N) and Frontier Airlines(ULCC.O) agreed to guarantee in customer service plans not to charge family seating fees if specific conditions are met. Southwest Airlines (LUV.N) Chief Executive Bob Jordan said last week the airline is in discussions with USDOT about the family seating dashboard. USDOT has begun drafting regulations to end all family seating fees but that could take years to finalize.

☆ U.S. pressures airlines to commit to ending family seating fees
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - Three U.S. airlines agreed to commit in writing to eliminating family seating fees if adjacent seats are available during booking, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) said on Monday. USDOT is unveiling a new government dashboard highlighting airline commitments after its four-month review found no airlines previously guaranteed fee-free family seating. Airlines for America, which represents large U.S. airlines, says its carriers do not charge for family seating but many do not include commitments in customer service plans. Alaska Airlines said it has "always cared for families on our flights and family seating is something we’ve never charged for." USDOT has begun drafting regulations to end family seating fees but that could take years to finalize.

☆ Biden urges US carriers to follow American Airlines on family seating
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden on Tuesday called on U.S. airlines to follow American Airlines (AAL.O) in committing to eliminating family seating fees as part of their customer service plans. Airlines for America, which represents the largest U.S. airlines, has said its carriers do not charge for family seating. Other carriers have not adopted the commitment in customer service plans. Carriers that do not honor commitments in written plans can face enforcement actions from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) said Tuesday it "does not charge family seating fees and regardless of the ticket class purchased, will always work with customers on a case-by-case basis to ensure their family seating needs are met."

☆ Reasons Plane Travel, Airline Customer Service, Airports Are so Terrible
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Bartie Scott | Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

It's almost impossible to imagine a time when air travel was pleasant, much less enjoyable. Lost baggage, overbooked flights, outdated equipment, hidden fees, and disorganized staffing have fliers at their wits' end; consumer complaints about airline service have risen by 300% from pre-pandemic levels. Many of these measures had been put in place to improve safety following some rattling accidents in the early days of commercial air travel. So in 1978, at the urging of the economist and "inflation czar" Alfred Kahn, President Jimmy Carter enacted the Airline Deregulation Act. He added that "airline service, by any standard, has become unacceptable."

☆ U.S. airlines urge FAA to extend 5G upgrade deadline
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 10 (Reuters) - A group representing major U.S. airlines "strongly urged" the Federal Aviation Administration to extend a proposed deadline to June 2024 to retrofit airplane altimeters to ensure they are not susceptible to 5G wireless interference. Airlines for America, which represents American Airlines (AAL.O), Delta Air Lines (DAL.N), United Airlines (UAL.O) and others also asked the FAA to revise a proposed 5G safety directive "to reflect technical realities and the continued safe operation of many aircraft." The group warned a "material number of aircraft" in U.S. fleets will not be modified by July and without changes it could "severely limit operations." Reporting by David ShepardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Southwest explains its meltdown to Congress
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Gregory Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —Congress is set to receive new evidence Thursday of internal chaos at Southwest Airlines over the Christmas holiday meltdown. The Senate Commerce committee is set to question Southwest executive Andrew Watterson, alongside Southwest pilot union president Casey Murray, Sharon Pinkerton of the Airlines for America trade group, Paul Hudson of Flyers’ Rights, and economist Clifford Winston of The Brookings Institution. It’s a mess down here.”A photograph of the message, which shows the extent of the airline’s breakdown, is included in testimony the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association union, SWAPA, plans to present at the hearing. Southwest CEO Bob Jordan apologized and the airline offered reimbursements for passengers’ costs, along with bonus points. The union criticized the airline for giving executives stock options in the wake of the meltdown while employees lost profit sharing pay because of the airline’s financial hit due to the meltdown.

☆ Biden says airlines can’t treat kids like 'piece of baggage'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 7 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden on Tuesday harshly criticized U.S. airlines saying they were charging families unfair fees and vowing to implement new consumer protections. "Baggage fees are bad enough – airlines can’t treat your child like a piece of baggage." Airlines for America (A4A), a group representing Delta Air Lines (DAL.N), United Airlines (UAL.O), American Airlines (AAL.O), Southwest Airlines (LUV.N) and others said Tuesday its member carriers do not charge fees to sit together. Biden touted regulations the Transportation Department is drafting to make "airlines show you the full ticket price upfront and refund your money if your flight is canceled or delayed." Biden in September touted his administration's "cracking down" on U.S. airlines to improve treatment of passengers after they updated customer service plans.

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