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☆ 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.

☆ Delta and United are dropping service to more cities as the trend of leaving regional airports behind continues
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Bianca Giacobone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The two airlines have collectively dropped 55 regional airports since the COVID-19 pandemic. "Delta continues to evaluate the regional market, monitoring regional carrier pilot availability and customer demand. After Delta pulls out, La Crosse Regional Airport will still be connected to Chicago by American Airlines. The four airports are the latest in a long list of regional airports that were abandoned by major airlines as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Including the airports cited above, Delta has dropped 17 regional destinations and United 38 regional destinations since the beginning of the pandemic.

Donald Trump arrived in New York to face criminal charges related to hush-money paid to a porn star during his 2016 political campaign, as the city braced for the unprecedented surrender of a former president. Mr. Trump left his Mar-a-Lago compound in Florida around noon Monday, traveling in a motorcade along roads lined with supporters before boarding his jet, with its television tuned to Fox News carrying the departure live. After landing at LaGuardia Airport in New York, he went to Trump Tower in Manhattan to meet with his lawyers and other advisers.

☆ 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.

☆ Trump to fly to New York to surrender on indictment in porn star payoff criminal case
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Former US President Donald Trump's private airplane known as Trump Force One is parked on the tarmac at the Palm Beach International Airport on March 31, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida. - Giorgio Viera | AFP | Getty ImagesFormer President Donald Trump prepared to fly to New York's LaGuardia Airport on Monday to surrender to face criminal charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump is due to be arraigned Tuesday in Manhattan Supreme Court, where a grand jury indicted him Thursday. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office is prosecuting Trump, has not made any public statement about the charges other than confirming the indictment was filed. Manhattan District Court

☆ The FAA is warning flyers of a 45% increase in flight delays this summer in NYC and DC as it deals with staff shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Bianca Giacobone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The FAA anticipates a 45% increase in flight delays at East Coast airports in the summer of 2023. The agency is blaming a post-pandemic shortage of air traffic controllers at key New York facilities. Airlines will be temporarily allowed to give up slots and times at airports in New York and DC. The agency expects overall delays in the New York region to increase 45% in the coming months compared to summer 2022, according to a recent press release. Last summer saw over 40,000 delays recorded at the New York area airports and the highest yearly percentage of delayed flights of the past seven years.

JetBlue will face "an uphill battle" as it fights the government," said Diana Moss, president of the American Antitrust Institute. "If I'm JetBlue, that's where I focus right now, developing that divestiture offer and lining up a buyer to 'litigate the fix,'" said Dryden. Whatever arguments JetBlue uses, a court fight could last six to eight months and cost tens of millions of dollars in attorney fees, legal experts said. Bill Baer, head of the Justice Department's antitrust division under former President Barack Obama, said the government's complaint "shows that there is meaningful competition between Spirit and JetBlue." "JetBlue brags about the 'JetBlue effect,' where they enter a market and fares tend to go down," he said.

☆ Delta pilots wrap voting on new contract with big raises
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Delta and the pilots' union had reached a preliminary agreement in December. The Delta pilots are expected to approve the deal Wednesday. United , American and Southwest pilots' unions are still in negotiations. Contract talks between airlines and labor unions have been fraught at times, as aviators seek higher pay and better schedules. Alaska Airlines pilots won raises in their latest labor deal last year.

☆ US awards nearly $1 billion to airports in infrastructure grants
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it is awarding nearly $1 billion to 99 U.S. airport terminal projects under a 2021 $1 trillion infrastructure law. The awards include $10.8 million to Des Moines International Airport in Iowa to replace the 1948 terminal that is operating above capacity and $29 million to Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah for a terminal and concourse redevelopment program. This is the second phase of funding - the FAA awarded nearly $1 billion for airport terminal projects announced for 85 airports last year. In November the FAA granted final environmental approval for construction of a new $4.2 billion terminal at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport and for an $8.5 billion project at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport that includes a new Terminal 2. The 2021 infrastructure law dedicates $25 billion for airport projects over five years.

☆ Delta passenger says an 'out of control' flight attendant told his wife she had a 'stupid face' before their family was kicked off plane
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Delta passenger accused a flight attendant of telling his wife she had a "stupid face." Todd replied, "I have you on video saying my wife has a stupid face," prompting the flight attendant to say: "I don't care. You're being rude, rude, rude since the moment of the back." The couple was told by a flight attendant that they were not allowed to use the first-class storage space, according to the blog. "So then she looks at Jen and says, 'don't look at me with that stupid face.'

☆ JetBlue pilots approve contract extension that comes with over 21% in raises
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

JetBlue Airways pilots have approved a contract extension that comes with 21.5% raises over the next 18 months as the industry reverses slow progress in labor deals during a pilot shortage. That airline's pilots approved a new two-year contract that their union estimated to be worth around $463 million. If the merger isn't approved by regulators, the union will go back into contract negotiations with the airline. A shortage of aviators and high demand from airlines large and small have also limited airlines' ability to grow. United Airlines , American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are still in talks with their pilots' labor unions.

“To the people of #NY03 I have my story to tell and it will be told next week,” Santos tweeted on Dec. 22. After images surfaced showing Santos dressed in drag, Santos insisted it was “categorically false” that he had ever performed as a drag queen. A Siena College survey released Monday showed many New York voters seem to agree with Stern’s assessment. Just 16% of New York voters said they viewed Santos favorably — including a mere 15% of Republicans. Additionally, 59% of New York voters said Santos should resign while just 17% said he should not.

☆ Aging, outdated technology leaves air travel at risk of meltdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

As early as 2012, the FAA decided it wanted to replace aging legacy voice switches used in air traffic control communications with new, internet-based communications technology. Trying to integrate old systems with newer ones — always in real time, because the global aviation industry never sleeps — can also create its own opportunities for catastrophic mistakes. Many more things can go wrong than you might expect — highlighting the sheer complexity of the aviation industry, and underscoring how there isn’t a quick easy fix for IT-related travel disruptions. But it has had lasting effects on FAA technology. That bureaucratic myopia is its own cause of today’s technological malaise in the aviation industry.

☆ Delta curbs employee access to luxury airport lounges as it struggles with crowding
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Delta Air Lines plans to curb employee access to its plush and popular airport lounges next month, its latest attempt to ease crowding. "The employee discount on Delta Sky Club memberships also is discontinued," said the memo, which was seen by CNBC. Complimentary seats on planes are a major perk for airline staff, and they aren't just used for vacation. American and United say they aren't planning similar policy changes for their lounges, though carriers occasionally tweak employee travel policies. For example, those carriers paused certain employee travel perks to London over the summer due to congestion.

FAA officials said a preliminary review traced the outage to a damaged database file, but added there was no evidence of a cyberattack and the investigation was continuing. FAA officials said they were working to "further pinpoint the causes" so the problem can be avoided in the future. One issue airlines are facing is trying to get planes in and out of crowded gates, which is causing further delays. He described confusion as airline employees and many passengers were initially unaware of the FAA's moves and flight delays. The U.S. Travel Association, which represents the travel industry including airlines, called the FAA system failure "catastrophic."

You may also access Centurion Lounges if you've got one of the following Delta credit cards:You can only access the Amex Centurion lounges when you're flying Delta, and you'll need to pay $50 per guest. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (Concourse E) — coming soonCharlotte Douglas International Airport (between Concourse D and E)Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (Terminal D)Denver International Airport (Concourse C)Intercontinental Houston Airport (Terminal D)Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (Concourse D)Los Angeles International Airport (Tom Bradley International Terminal)Miami International Airport (Concourse D)John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York)Newark Liberty International Airport (Terminal A) — not yet openNew York LaGuardia Airport (Terminal B, pre-security)Philadelphia International Airport (Terminal A)Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (Terminal 4)San Francisco International Airport (Terminal 3)Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Concourse B)Washington, DC Ronald Reagan National Airport (Terminal B) — coming soonLondon Heathrow (Terminal 3)Hong Kong International (Terminal 1)International locations Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Hong Kong International Airport (Terminal 1)London Heathrow Airport (Terminal 3)Stockholm Arlanda Airport (Terminal 5)Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (Terminal 2)Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (Terminal 3)Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini International Airport (Terminal B)Sao Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport (Terminal 3)Melbourne Airport (Terminal 2)Mexico City International Airport (Terminals 1 and 2)Monterrey General Mariano Escobedo International Airport (Terminals A and B)Sydney Airport (Terminal 1)Centurion Studios (Escape Lounges) Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Hartford Bradley International Airport (Terminal A)Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (Concourse B)John Glenn Columbus International Airport (Concourse B)Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (Terminal 3)Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (Concourse B)Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (Terminal 1)Oakland International Airport (Terminal 1)Palm Beach International Airport (Concourse B)Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (Terminals 3 and 4)Rhode Island T.F. With these cards, you can enter 1,300+ lounges from networks such as: Amex Centurion Lounges (widely considered to be the best airport lounges in the US)Priority Pass** (access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide)Delta Sky Club lounges (only when you have a same-day Delta boarding pass)Escape Lounge – The Centurion Studio PartnerPlaza Premium loungesLufthansa lounges (when flying Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, or SWISS)Can Amex Gold cardholders use Centurion Lounges?

☆ FAA system outage disrupts thousands of flights across U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The FAA's outage was the second major air travel disruption in less than a month and drew bipartisan criticism. Later Wednesday, Canada's air navigation agency said its similar notification system experienced a brief outage, but said no flights were delayed as a result. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards FAA system failure created mass cancellations across the U.S. on Jan. 11th, 2023. FlightawareWednesday's FAA issue added to concern from Washington from both Republicans and Democrats, particularly about technology that the complex U.S. air system, the world's busiest, relies on. More than a third of Delta's and United's mainline flights were delayed, while about 50% of American's were running late.

☆ Analysis: Southwest got billions of dollars in taxpayer aid. Why is its service still a mess?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Southwest Airlines received more than $7 billion from that program. However, analysts say, Southwest’s service meltdown is unrelated to the taxpayer assistance the airline received in 2020. Cancelled Southwest Airlines flights are seen on the flight schedules at LaGuardia Airport, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, in New York. In April 2020, airline passenger traffic plummeted 96% and stayed 60% below 2019 levels in 2020, according to the US Government Accountability Office. “The problems at Southwest Airlines over the last several days go beyond weather,” she said in a statement.

☆ Unclaimed luggage is piling up at airports across the US after Southwest and other airlines canceled flights due to the winter storm: PHOTOS
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Southwest scrubbed nearly 2,700 flights on Tuesday, which accounted for 84% of all cancelations in the US that day, according to FlightAware. The chaos has left passengers' baggage mounting up at various airports. LaGuardia Airport in New York. AP Photo/Yuki IwamuraSource: Insider

☆ 'Never flying Southwest again': Stranded and frustrated customers scramble to find flights and alternative travel
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Antonio Planas | Antonio Planas Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Most Southwest Airlines flights aren't going anywhere, but frustration levels for scores of travelers across the country are soaring. In the post-Christmas rush and severe winter storm chaos, the Dallas-based airline canceled nearly two-thirds of its flights Tuesday and said that the disruptions likely won't be over for several days. More than 3,500 flights scheduled to leave Wednesday have already been canceled, with Southwest constituting about 70% of those cancellations, according to FlightAware. He said he couldn't find another seat on a Southwest flight to Dallas until Monday. But unlike some Southwest customers, she has loved ones she can lean on for accommodations.

As the storm took shape over the Great Lakes on Thursday, a weather phenomenon known as a bomb cyclone was likely to develop from a "rapidly deepening low-pressure" system, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. The cyclone could spawn snowfalls of a half inch (1.25 cm) per hour and howling winds from the Upper Midwest to the interior Northeast, producing near-zero visibility, the weather service said. "It's dangerous and threatening," President Joe Biden said at the White House, urging Americans with travel plans to not delay and to set off on Thursday. Hundreds of Texans died in February 2021 after the state's power grid failed amid wintry storms, leaving millions without electricity. Greg Carbin, chief of forecast operations at the NWS Weather Prediction Center in Maryland, said freezing or below-freezing cold would bisect central Florida, with temperatures about 25 degrees below normal.

☆ Deep freeze grips U.S. as winter 'bomb cyclone' looms ahead of holiday weekend
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Steve Gorman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Numbing cold intensified by high winds was expected to extend as far south as the U.S.-Mexico border. The NWS map of existing or impending wintry hazards, stretching from border to border and coast to coast, "depicts one of the greatest extents of winter weather warnings and advisories ever," the agency said. The bomb cyclone could unleash snowfalls of a half inch (1.25 cm) per hour driven by gale-force winds, cutting visibility to near zero, the weather service said. Power outages were expected from high winds, heavy snow and ice, as well as the strain of higher-than-usual energy demands. The weather service said relief from the deep freeze was in sight for the northern Rockies and High Plains, where the arctic blast first materialized on Thursday.

While travel demand is roaring back, many hotels, airlines, cruise operators and airports are still racing to hire and train workers. That means the level of customer service will likely take a hit, industry experts say. One potential bright spot can be found at sea: During the summer, several cruise lines had to cancel voyages due to staffing shortages, but major disruptions have been largely resolved. “It’s highly unlikely your holiday cruise will be canceled due to lack of staffing,” said Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, a Tripadvisor-run travel site. “This year, I moved my annual holiday travel to earlier in December,” said Abby Rhinehart, an educational researcher in Tucson, Arizona.

☆ Flight delays and cancellations will likely impact millions of Christmas travelers. What to do when your airline experiences disruptions.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The National Weather Service has warned of a strong winter storm expected to affect holiday travel. But, some airlines offer to rebook on their website or mobile app and waive any fees, so it's sometimes easier to make changes online than in person. Carriers offering both are Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and United Airlines, according to the DoT dashboard. It never hurts to request a meal or hotel during flight disruptions, and you might get lucky with a goodwill gesture from the carrier. For example, in the case of a winter storm, it's likely many passengers will end up stranded in random cities across the US.

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