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☆ Transatlantic flights are all the rage this summer. These are the 10 biggest airlines connecting the US to Europe.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Bianca Giacobone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Barring any cancellations, there will be 3% more seats on flights from US to Europe this summer than in 2019. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have the most scheduled seats, with over 9 million each. Barring any cancellations, that would constitute a 3% increase in capacity compared to the summer of 2019, and a 15% increase compared to last year. With over 2.5 million seats, Turkish Airlines has increased its scheduled capacity by 78% compared to pre-pandemic times. See the top 10 airlines connecting Europe and the US by scheduled seat capacity for summer 2023:

☆ US airlines made nearly $7 billion in bag fees last year despite mishandling nearly 3 million of them — see how carriers compare
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

US airlines earned a collective $6.8 billion in baggage revenue in 2022. American Airlines generated the most revenue but had the worst mishandled bag rate of any carrier. The strategy has paid off, with airlines collectively earning about $6.8 billion in baggage revenue last year according to DOT stats. This year's $1 billion increase from 2019 is despite carrying 72 million fewer passengers. However, carriers faltered when it came to handling the luggage, resulting in nearly 3 million bags lost, destroyed, or delayed across all airlines in 2022.

☆ US airline passengers are getting increasingly frustrated. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Air travel has bounced back after its pandemic-induced slump, but that doesn’t mean passengers are feeling good about it. North American travelers are frustrated with high ticket prices, staffing shortages and reduced routes, according to consumer research company J.D. Power’s 2023 North American Airline Satisfaction Study. Unsatisfied passengersDelta Air Lines ranked number one for premium economy passengers, number two for economy passengers and number two for first class and business class travelers. American Airlines

[1/2] A woman checks the arrivals and departures board at Chicago Midway International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. April 18, 2023. REUTERS/Jim Vondruska/File PhotoNEW YORK, May 10 (Reuters) - A gloomy forecast from vacation rental firm Airbnb (ABNB.O) weighed on travel-related stocks on Wednesday as an expected slowdown in bookings signaled an impending slump in travel demand with consumers seeking cheaper accommodation amid inflation and recession fears. Airbnb's forecast will heighten caution in the travel sector, which encompasses hotels, airlines, and vacation rental firms, according to an investor note by JPMorgan analysts, led by Doug Anmuth. "We also believe Airbnb's commentary will result in increased caution in the travel space, but more specifically around vacation and the U.S.," the analysts said. Reporting by Chibuike Oguh in New York; Editing by Lance Tupper and Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ JetBlue adds incremental perks like early boarding and booze to keep travelers reaching for status
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

JetBlue Airways has unveiled new perks for less-frequent flyers who are striving for elite status, the latest carrier to rethink its loyalty program to reflect shifting travel habits. Other changes include:JetBlue breaking up its elite Mosaic status into four levels, with benefits corresponding to each. To earn level 1 of that program travelers will need 50 tiles, and that comes with benefits like access to seats with extra legroom at check-in and same-day flight changes. JetBlue is also offering perks when a customer moves up a level of elite status like pet-fee waivers or a $99 credit card statement credit. American Airlines late last year, for example, raised the spending threshold required for customers to earn elite status.

☆ US airlines thrown a curveball as consumer habits change post-pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Rajesh Kumar Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Even as the thirst for travel remains strong, the changing trends are driving up airlines' operating costs and hurting revenue. Travel demand has also softened on days in the middle of the week, but has strengthened on peak days. Frontier Airlines (ULCC.O) decided to slash flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays by about 20%, citing weak demand. Delta Airlines (DAL.N) reported that bookings for trips inside 30 days were declining, while those outside 30 days were stronger. Last year, it denied boarding to more customers than American Airlines (AAL.O) and United, U.S. Transportation Department data shows.

☆ J.D. Power ranked airlines across 3 fare classes according to its annual customer satisfaction survey — see the results
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines scored the highest among 11 North American carriers. Of the 11 carriers ranked, JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines earned the top spot for each respective category. Courtesy of JetBlueJetBlue Airways (893) Delta Air Lines (865) United Airlines (848) Alaska Airlines (833) Air Canada (830) American Airlines (826)Segment Average: 846Premium EconomyDelta Premium Select. Delta Air LinesDelta Air Lines (848) JetBlue Airways (840) Alaska Airlines (823) American Airlines (821) Air Canada (797) United Airlines (784)Segment Average: 820Economy/Basic EconomySouthwest Airlines cabin. Jimmy Rooney/ShutterstockSouthwest Airlines (827) Delta Air Lines (801) JetBlue Airways (800) Alaska Airlines (781) WestJet (777) Allegiant Air (775) United Airlines (770) Air Canada (765) American Airlines (764) Spirit Airlines (727) Frontier Airlines (705)Segment Average: 782

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.

☆ How U.S. airlines make $7 billion a year from checked bags
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Shawn Baldwin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. airlines had baggage fee revenue of more than $6.7 billion last year, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. American Airlines alone earned almost $1.4 billion from checked bags, accounting for more than 2% of the carrier's full-year revenue. For decades, most bags flew for free, but in recent years fees have surged, boosting the bottom line of the nation's carriers. U.S. carriers hauled more than 470 million passenger bags last year. So what steps do airlines take to prevent lost luggage and how does Delta Air Lines move 100,000 bags a day through the world's busiest airport?

☆ Swarm of bees delays a Delta flight by three hours
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Marnie Hunter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A swarm of bees touched down on a parked Delta Air Lines aircraft Wednesday, delaying a flight from Houston to Atlanta for about three hours. Delta apologized to customers on the delayed flight. My flight leaving Houston is delayed because bees have congregated on the tip of one of the wings. A swarm of bees delayed an Air India flight in 2019. The airport involved in Wednesday’s bee-related delay hasn’t joined in airport beekeeping efforts – yet.

☆ 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.

☆ Washington says Chinese airlines can increase flights to America
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The US Department of Transportation confirmed to CNN that it had issued an order permitting Chinese airlines to increase their number of weekly round-trip flights to 12. That’s up from the eight weekly round-trip flights currently allowed for Chinese carriers. Currently, three US airlines American Airlines (AAL), Delta Air Lines (DAL) and United Airlines (UAL) fly routes between the two countries. Chinese operators Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Xiamen Airlines also serve the two markets. Chinese carriers have not been subject to the restrictions, as the relationship between Moscow and Beijing remains intact, leading to calls in the United States and Britain for bans on Chinese flights that use Russian airspace.

"That's what we are looking towards as we are working with our pilots union to get a deal done." American Airlines, United Airlines (UAL.O) and Southwest Airlines (LUV.N) are all in the middle of contract negotiations with their pilots. The carrier's pilot union said it made no concessions in the deal, which included dozens of work-rule improvements and quality-of-life related items. In an update to its members this week, United's pilot union said it is seeking similar improvements. Casey Murray, head of the Dallas-based airline's pilot union, said it has lost more pilots in the first four months of this year than it did in all of 2022.

☆ Boeing has unveiled a new plane for its 'ecoDemonstrator' program — a modified 787. See all 10 of the company's testbed jets.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Boeing announced a new addition to its fleet of ecoDemonstrator aircraft on Thursday — a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner. While not every experimental technology makes it onto a future Boeing jet, about a third actually have. 2014: Boeing 787Boeing 787 ecoDemonstrator. BoeingIn 2014, the planemaker debuted its second ecoDemonstrator — a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The 787 ecoDemonstrator tested 35 projects, including a collaboration with Delta Air Lines to generate real-time turbulence reports.

☆ American Airlines pilots vote to authorize strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 1 (Reuters) - A union representing American Airlines Group Inc (AAL.O) pilots said on Monday its members had approved a strike mandate ahead of the busy summer travel season, although the chances of an actual labor disruption remain slim. The Allied Pilots Association (APA), which represents 15,000 American Airlines pilots, held a strike authorization vote in April to put pressure on the Texas-based carrier for higher salary and better working conditions, even as the two sides closed in on an agreement in principle. More than 96% of the APA membership participated in the vote and over 99% voted in favor of authorizing a strike, the union said in a statement. The finish line is in sight," American Airlines said in a statement. The airline's pilots received their last pay increase in 2019.

☆ American Airlines pilots vote for potential strike while airline says negotiations are progressing
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Pilots talk as they look at the tail of an American Airlines aircraft at Dallas-Ft Worth International Airport. American Airlines pilots have voted overwhelmingly to allow their labor union to call a strike while the carrier said talks for a new contract are getting close to a conclusion. More than 96% of American's pilots participated in the vote and 99% of them voted to allow the union to call a strike, the Allied Pilots Association said Monday. The APA called the strike authorization vote in March as talks for a new deal dragged on. A spokeswoman for American Airlines said the carrier believes a deal is "within reach" and that a "handful" of issues are left to complete.

☆ United Airlines' plan to revamp narrow-body cabins faces supply chain delays
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

United Airlines ' plan to revamp the cabins on its older narrow-body planes is running behind schedule because of supply chain strains, the carrier told CNBC this week. The upgrades include bigger premium cabins, seat-back entertainment screens throughout the planes, Bluetooth capabilities and other amenities. The carrier expects about one in three aircraft in its narrow-body fleet, including new aircraft, will have the upgraded interior by the end of the year. The airline had targeted 2025 to complete the narrow-body upgrades, but it's unclear if United will make that goal. Delta executives have said that revenue growth for premium seats like business class or premium economy has outpaced sales from standard coach.

☆ Opinion | No One Knows the Value of a College Degree Like Someone Without One
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Christopher Zara | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

The good news is, future job searches may not always be as bleak as mine have been. to Delta Air Lines are dropping college degree requirements for many roles, focusing instead on “skills-based hiring,” a philosophy that emphasizes people over pedigrees. Consider the ever-persistent education wage gap, which has been widening for decades and by some measures got even worse during the past few years. Can we be so surprised that the media presents an incomplete picture about higher education when so few journalists navigate the working world without a four-year degree? One 2022 survey conducted by Morning Consult found that even though 72 percent of employers said they didn’t believe a college degree was a great indicator of a person’s skills, more than half still hired candidates from degree programs anyway because they saw doing so as a “less risky choice.”

☆ Delta could bump even more people off flights as it looks to increase 'overbooking' to wring out more profits
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Dennis Green | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Glen Hauenstein, president of Delta, said the airline would look at increasing its overbooking rate. Your next Delta Air Lines flight might come with a hard decision: taking the flight or a cash voucher instead. That's because the airline is considering increasing the rate it overbooks flights Glen Hauenstein, president of Delta Air Lines, told investors in an April earnings call. Hauenstein said the airline would take a measured approach, increasing overbooking little by little and seeing how it goes. Airlines must balance the risk and rewards of overbooking to maximize revenue on any given flight.

☆ Top F.A.A. Official Says He Will Depart, Aggravating Leadership Void
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Mark Walker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON — The acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Billy Nolen, on Friday said he will depart this summer, worsening a leadership void at the agency. The departure of Mr. Nolen, a former pilot and airline industry group executive, was announced in a letter to F.A.A. The aviation regulator has been without permanent leadership since Stephen Dickson, a former Delta Air Lines executive who was appointed by President Donald J. Trump, stepped down a year ago. Last month, President Biden’s pick to lead the F.A.A., Phillip A. Washington, withdrew his name from consideration after a series of attacks from Republicans on his qualifications to hold the post. They had argued that Mr. Washington, the chief executive of Denver International Airport, lacked sufficient aviation experience, and raised questions about his connection to a corruption investigation in Los Angeles.

☆ U.S. company comments suggest upbeat demand despite gloomy forecasts
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Caroline Valetkevitch | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The credit card company reported quarterly earnings that missed analysts' expectations, however, as it kept aside a large sum to cover potential defaults. That would mark the second straight quarterly fall for corporate earnings, a so-called "earnings recession" that last occurred when COVID-19 hit corporate results in 2020. Moreover, in aggregate, companies are reporting earnings 7.8% above expectations, compared with a 4.2% average for the prior four quarters. Baker Hughes Co. (BKR.O) said in a presentation this week that the energy outlook remained constructive even with elevated recession risks. Both Delta (DAL.N) and United (UAL.O) gave upbeat near-term outlooks on travel demand, with Delta a week ago saying it expects summer travel demand will result in higher-than-expected profit for the quarter through June despite other risks.

☆ United Airlines posts net loss but forecasts profit for second quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

United Airlines reported a loss for the first three months of the year but forecast a profit for the second quarter, when the peak summer travel season picks up. United joined rival Delta Air Lines in reporting strong travel demand for the spring and summer, despite some predictions for an economic slowdown. For the second quarter, United expects adjusted earnings per share of $3.50 to $4 and revenues to rise 14% to 16% from last year. United posted a net loss of $194 million, or a loss 59 cents a share, compared with a loss of $1.4 billion, or a loss $4.24 per share, in the first quarter of last year. United executives will discuss results with analysts and media on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

☆ United plans to expand Australia, New Zealand flights 40% in bet on international travel rebound
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

United Airlines is planning to grow its service to Australia and New Zealand later this year, the carrier's latest bet that travelers will continue to book international trips. United is also building up service from both San Francisco and Los Angeles to Brisbane, Australia, and it is using its largest plane to fly between San Francisco and Melbourne, Australia. Airline executives have been upbeat about international travel demand and have been expanding their schedules to cater to the rebound. "On international, we are excited with the momentum we're seeing and expect record revenues and profitability for the summer travel season," Delta's president, Glen Hauenstein, said Thursday on an earnings call. United Airlines is scheduled to report first-quarter results after the market closes Tuesday and will provide another demand forecast ahead of the peak summer travel season.

☆ Pilots at Canada's WestJet Airlines approve possible strike action
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Allison Lampert | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 18 (Reuters) - WestJet Airlines pilots on Tuesday voted for possible strike action as early as May 16, underscoring broader efforts by North American pilots to make gains on salary and working conditions as traffic rises. Pilots at Onex Corp's (ONEX.TO) WestJet Group, Canada's second-largest carrier, could strike or be locked out if notice is given on May 13, union representative Bernard Lewall said. Participating pilots voted 93% in favor of strike authorization, said Lewall, chair of the local union with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). Calgary-based WestJet said the carrier wants an agreement that is competitive within Canada's airline industry. Their union, the Allied Pilots Association, is also holding a strike authorization vote that concludes on April 30.

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