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Airbus steals the show with the A321XLR, but Boeing wins a surprising order for the B737 MAX.
Notre Dame cathedral, Paris promises, will be rebuilt. And so will, Boeing promised in Paris, the reputation and reliability of the B737 MAX. Airbus meanwhile, had something new to offer in Paris: a revamped version of its already-successful A321 NEO. The MAX, to be clear, is in less trouble than al...
Virgin Atlantic Airways plans to use the purchase of UK regional carrier Flybe Group for further takeovers of British operators so it can feed more passengers onto its long-haul flights.
Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. plans to use the purchase of U.K. regional carrier Flybe Group Plc for further takeovers of British operators so it can feed more passengers onto its long-haul flights.
"It’s actually hard to believe that these three airlines with thousands of airplanes each feel their very existence is threatened by an airline that has only five widebody planes," JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes.
In an interview, JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes remains a staunch supporter of the open-skies regulatory regime as it stands and says the U.S. Big Three are “pulling the drawbridge of competition up” behind them on transatlantic routes. In particular, Hayes thinks Delta, United, and American are wrong ...
With hundreds of Boeing 737 Max series aircraft still grounded pending a new wave of training and approvals from global aviation authorities, business travel has largely been unaffected by disruptions.
With hundreds of Boeing 737 Max series aircraft still grounded pending a new wave of training and approvals from global aviation authorities, business A poll of 155 travel managers conducted by the Global Business Travel Association found lingering concerns about not just travelers flying on Boeing....
In moving to a dynamic-based system for selling award seats, Lufthansa will be the first European carrier to formally adopt the model. But will the program look like its American cousins? http://bit.ly/30Y1wYn
Lufthansa is planning to adopt dynamic award pricing within Miles & More, its loyalty program. In a press briefing late last Wednesday, the German Lufthansa is adopting a dynamic model for pricing its award seats, which will let it charge more for seats when demand goes up and fewer when airplanes a...
A lot of people feel guilty about flying, but the number prepared to give it up is still pretty small. That’s not to say it can’t grow, especially as climate change becomes more of a priority. Should we all have the right to cheap flights, even if they are helping to destroy the planet? http://bit.ly/30Q5u5b
Teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg gained plenty of plaudits for her impassioned speech at a recent protest in London, but the way she got to
Airlines have a love-hate relationship with plastics, especially when it comes to food and beverage. Plastics pose a serious environmental threat, but at the same time they’re lightweight and thereby help reduce carbon emissions. Can carriers tackle both of these problems at once? http://bit.ly/30TbSsj
Plastics play a huge role on airplanes, especially in catering, but it wasn’t always this way. Going back to the so-called golden age of air travel ...
Most U.S. airline CEOs earned more total compensation in 2018 than the previous year, and for good reason. Business was booming, and while there was one industrywide blip — fuel prices were up in the second and third quarters — airlines generally handled the adversity well. http://bit.ly/2JMNaEx
After United Airlines' disastrous 2017 — when security officers in Chicago forcibly removed a customer from an overbooked plane — the company's board
In a rare appearance at Skift Forum Asia, Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong says the carrier is in a unique position: It doesn’t operate a single domestic route. So it has to make up for the valuable revenue stream it lacks from domestic traffic feed by competing aggressively in a fragmented market. http://bit.ly/2KfFfyX #skiftforum
Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong said he envies American Airlines CEO Doug Parker for the scale and potential for profitability that U.S. carriers Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong says doesn't operate a single domestic route. So it has to make up for the valuable revenue stream from dome...
This week's new issue: This year’s first quarter was one European airlines would rather forget. http://bit.ly/2JLS9oW
From January through March, there wasn’t a single U.S. airline that lost money. In Europe, only British Airways avoided red ink.
Network airlines have long sought to drive out low-cost carriers by matching fares in certain markets. But now, equipped with basic economy fares and other options, United’s Kirby vows to match the fares of new entrants in a much more rigorous way. http://bit.ly/2QufagF
United Airlines President Scott Kirby issued a warning to potential new-entrant low-cost-carriers, including JetBlue founder David Neeleman's Moxie: United Airlines President Scott Kirby issued a warning to potential new-entrant low-cost-carriers, including JetBlue founder David Neeleman's Moxie: Un...
Lots of companies have plenty of data at their disposal to improve operations and personalize services. Whether AirAsia has the wherewithal to become a much broader e-commerce platform is a very open question. http://bit.ly/2wlzAiZ
There was no backtracking from AirAsia in its plan to branch out into selling other airlines on its platform, financial services, and more experiences. There was no backtracking from AirAsia in its plan to branch out into selling other airlines on its platform, financial services, and more experienc...
We’ve heard some U.S. airline CEOs say The Boeing Company 737 Max could return to service this summer, but the FAA is making no promises.
Representatives from more than 30 countries met with Federal Aviation Administration officials Thursday to hear the U.S. regulator's approach to Representatives from more 30 countries met with Federal Aviation Administration officials Thursday to hear the U.S. regulator's approach to determining how...
Uncertainty is never good for investment, and right now it’s taking a major toll on Avianca.
Avianca was a failing airline with 37 outdated planes when German Efromovich purchased it out of bankruptcy in 2004. Over 15 years the Bolivian businessman built it into a regional powerhouse as Latin America’s second-largest carrier.
Online travel agencies have been late to the airline sector push to sell airfares and other products in more modern ways.
Many airlines have unbundled plane tickets to sell a range of extras, such as early check-ins and Wi-Fi access, on their websites. But they've struggled Amadeus is providing online travel agency Travix with NDC.
Niki Lauda may have been more famous as a Formula One racing driver, but he left a lasting impression on the European aviation industry.
“Running an airline is the most difficult job in the world. Racing was more dangerous for my life,” motorsport driver and aviation entrepreneur Niki
European pilots stepped up pressure on the region’s air safety agency to take a strong stance in vetting U.S. plans to return The Boeing Company's grounded 737 Max to service after two fatal crashes.
European pilots stepped up pressure on the region’s air safety agency to take a strong stance in vetting U.S. plans to return Boeing Co.’s grounded 737 Max to service after two fatal crashes.
Ryanair plans to use its new group structure to take advantage of further consolidation in the European airline industry by snapping up airlines, jets, or airport slots that might become available because of competition rules.
Ryanair plans to use its new group structure to take advantage of further consolidation in the European airline industry by snapping up airlines, jets, or
The new issue of Airline Weekly takes a look at the consolidation in Canada's airline industry.
Air Canada, in its boldest strategic move yet, strikes a deal to buy Air Transat India just lost an airline. Brazil just lost an airline. Europe is losing airlines. Hong Kong is set to lose one of its airlines through consolidation. Now, it’s Canada’s turn. Early last week, WestJet stunned the m...
Brexit and the wider economic slowdown in Europe are making things tough for low-cost carrier easyJet as the airline tries to navigate through a tricky summer period.
Brexit and the wider economic slowdown in Europe are making things tough for low-cost carrier EasyJet as the airline tries to navigate through a tricky Brexit and the wider economic slowdown in Europe are making things tough for low-cost carrier Easyjet as the airline tries to navigate through a tri...
Viva Air is also looking at several other markets in South and Central America for its third base, CEO Felix Antelo said. But many have some issues, said Jay Shabat, senior analyst at Skift Airline Weekly.
With unrest gripping Venezuela, many international airlines have dropped flights or left completely, fearing pilots and flight attendants may be in danger With unrest gripping Venezuela, many international airlines have dropped flights or left completely, fearing pilots and flight attendants may be....
The Skift Airline Weekly Lounge podcast is back! This week, an interview with BA CEO Alex Cruz. from the recent Skift Forum Europe.
The Skift Airline Weekly Lounge returns with an exclusive interview with British Airways CEO Alex Cruz. Since taking over as CEO and chairman of British Airways in 2016, Cruz has endured his fair share of criticism over some of the changes he made to the a...
.Southwest Airlines, which has tied all of its future growth to the grounded The Boeing Company 737 Max, says the aircraft’s return to the skies this summer is still within reach.
Southwest Airlines Co., which has tied all of its future growth to the grounded Boeing Co. 737 Max, says the aircraft’s return to the skies this summer is still within reach.
India’s IndiGo, which currently flies as far as Istanbul, is mapping out an ambitious long-distance network. The airline aims to start one-stop trips further into Europe within six months, Chief Executive Officer Ronojoy Dutta said in an interview in New Delhi last week.
Low-cost airlines, the pioneers of brief discomfort at bargain prices, have struggled to master long-haul flights. Now one of the world’s most successful budget carriers is considering cut-price business class seats as a way into the Europe-Asia market.
With the departure of its top bosses, Jet Airways is heading down a path of no return. Things just aren’t looking good at this point for the grounded airline, a victim of fierce price wars in an all too crowded market.
Two top executives of Jet Airways India Ltd. resigned this week, further diminishing prospects for the grounded carrier that is desperately seeking $1.2 billion to fly again.
Delta Air Lines is the first major U.S. carrier to adopt a broader policy for extending elite status, including not just those who take parental leave but also flyers who experience other major life events.
It was a good week for loyalty members at Delta Air Lines. Early in the week, the Atlanta-based carrier kicked off a program called Reclaim My Status, Delta's Reclaim My Status program will allow those who took a break from frequent travel to quickly rejoin the ranks of elite flyers.
A decade ago, WestJet knew exactly what it was. It was Canada’s version of Southwest, flying short-haul routes with Boeing 737s. But recently, it has lost its way.
Nearly 20 years after abandoning his hostile bid for Air Canada, Gerry Schwartz finally got his airline by agreeing to buy WestJet Airlines Ltd. for C$3.5 billion ($2.6 billion).
AirAsia is indisputably one of the world’s most successful airlines ever—don’t let its notoriously complex accounting obscure that reality. But the company is now trying to be something much more than an airline.
AirAsia is indisputably one of the world’s most successful airlines ever—don’t let its notoriously complex accounting obscure that reality. But the company is now trying to be something much more than an airline. Less than three months after the 9/11 terror attacks upended the global airline b...
Many other European airlines have already done major restructuring because of changes in short-haul route dynamics. Now it’s Air France’s turn.
Air France plans to cut as many as 465 jobs as it slashes short-haul capacity in a bid to stem losses amid competition from low-cost airlines and high-speed trains.
Hopefully this will coincide with a continent-wide reassessment of how Europe can better manage tourism.
Europe’s rapid rate of tourism growth looks set to slow down over the course of 2019 as fears of a global economic slowdown and political uncertainty Europe’s rapid rate of tourism growth looks set to slow down over the course of 2019 as fears of a global economic slowdown and political uncertai...
The Skift team had British Airways CEO on stage earlier today in London. Here's the quick summary:
Since taking over as CEO and chairman of British Airways in 2016, Alex Cruz has endured his fair share of criticism over some of the changes he made to Since taking over as became CEO and chairman of British Airways in 2016, Alex Cruz has endured his fair share of criticism over some of the changes....
Sir Richard Branson knows how to make money. He’s a billionaire, after all. But his airlines?
They’re better known not for making money but losing it.
Richard Branson's airline has always struggled. But could Virgin Atlantic’s luck be changing with partnerships with Delta and Air France/KLM?
Once upon a time, it was the predator, not the prey.
In India’s first wave of airline deregulation in the early 1990s, Jet Airways was a promising upstart, bringing world-class levels of service to a market long cursed with the legendary shortcomings of Air India.
Today it is shuttered.
https://airlineweekly.com/jet-airways-post-mortem/
India's Jet Airways promptly shut down early last week. It's failure to keep running is a stark reminder of India's challenging environment.
A long-simmering fight over Open Skies is boiling over again and is dividing the U.S. airline industry. The U.S. major carriers say Air Italy is a Trojan horse for Qatar Airways to expand in the U.S. JetBlue and the cargo carriers argue changing the rules of the game now would invite retaliation.
After simmering on a back burner for more than a year, the fight between the U.S. major carriers and the Persian Gulf airlines is heating up again, this
The first hint came as early as 2011. JetBlue had just placed an order for A320-NEOs. And responding to an analyst question about potentially flying to longer-haul international markets like Europe, the carrier’s then-chief commercial officer didn’t deny the possibility: “Certainly with the winglets and then later the NEO, then some of those markets that we can’t serve today are absolutely destinations that we can consider.” Read more.
The first hint came as early as 2011. JetBlue had just placed an order for A320-NEOs. And responding to an analyst question about potentially flying to longer-haul international markets like Europe, the carrier’s then-chief commercial officer didn’t deny the possibility: “Certainly with the wi...
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