Airlines

Loyalty programs offered by airlines such as American, Delta, Southwest, and United have become a significant aspect of the U.S. economy and a major component of the airline business model. These programs have gained financial importance similar to or even surpassing the revenue generated from actual flight operations. The Department of Transportation (DOT) has initiated

In a surprising turn of events, Turkish Airlines has announced that starting on September 1, its fares will no longer be available for booking in the Sabre Global Distribution System (GDS). This decision has left many travel advisors and industry experts puzzled, wondering what led to this sudden change. As expected in situations like this,

Scandinavian airline SAS has emerged from the shadows of U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. This pivotal moment is being hailed as the beginning of a “new era” for SAS. The European Commission recently gave the green light to the carrier’s restructuring plan, which involves Air France-KLM acquiring a 19.9% stake in SAS. Additionally, SAS is

The recent vote by United Airlines flight attendants, with over 90% of union members supporting a strike, has raised concerns within the airline industry. However, despite the overwhelming support for strike authorization, the possibility of an actual strike is not immediate. The Railway Labor Act dictates the process for strike actions in the airline industry,

Southwest Airlines and Elliott Investment Management are set to meet on September 9 to discuss the ongoing issues between the two parties. Elliott has made it clear that they will move forward with their plan to initiate a proxy vote for a new slate of 10 board members, unless the current board is willing to

Lost or delayed bags can truly ruin a traveler’s experience, whether it be for a vacation or a business trip. The impact is so significant that even IATA director general Willie Walsh once went 35 years without checking a bag due to fears of mishandling. It is evident that baggage handling is a critical aspect

The potential pilots’ strike at Air Canada, looming as soon as Sept. 17, has caused the airline to waive change fees and fare differences for itineraries around that date. The cooling-off period between the Air Line Pilots Association and Air Canada, mandated by Canadian law, commenced on Aug. 27 and ends on Sept. 17, after

In a strategic move, JetBlue has decided to shift its year-round service to London Gatwick Airport to a summer seasonal schedule for flights originating from Boston and New York. This change will take effect with the suspension of service between Boston and Gatwick on October 1, followed by the pause of New York-Gatwick flights on

Alaska Airlines recently reached a major milestone in its efforts to acquire Hawaiian Airlines as antitrust regulators decided against challenging the merger on grounds of being anticompetitive. The Department of Justice also opted not to impose any conditions on the merger, which would have required Alaska to guarantee certain levels of interisland service in Hawaii

Southwest Airlines, known for its industry-leading policy of two free checked bags, is now exploring the possibility of charging fees for checked luggage. The airline recently conducted a survey to gauge customer sentiment regarding this potential policy change. The survey asked customers about various scenarios, including one where the cheapest fare only includes a carry-on,

Delta’s recent distribution agreements with the major GDSs have brought a significant change in the way travel advisors access content. These agreements ensure that travel advisors have access to full content without facing any surcharge for using legacy systems. The completion of multi-year agreements with two of the three GDSs highlights Delta’s commitment to providing

Safety concerns have been raised regarding Boeing 787 Dreamliners after an incident in which a jet went into a dive due to the captain’s seat unexpectedly moving forward and disconnecting the autopilot system. The Federal Aviation Administration has mandated inspections of cockpit seats on these Dreamliners to ensure that there are no missing or cracked

The Department of Justice has recently announced its decision not to challenge the proposed acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines by Alaska Airlines as anticompetitive. This decision marks a significant milestone in the merger process, allowing the two airlines to move forward with their plans to close the $1.9 billion deal. The DOJ’s review highlighted the commitment

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recently announced that it has awarded $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 target of achieving 3 billion gallons of domestic SAF production annually by 2030, ultimately accounting

Oregon’s Portland International Airport has recently unveiled the first phase of its brand new main terminal, a project that comes with a hefty price tag of $2.15 billion. The terminal boasts a plethora of new features including revamped check-in areas, wider TSA security screening zones equipped with state-of-the-art technology, and expanded public spaces that now

When a software update by cybersecurity provider CrowdStrike crashed Microsoft Windows operating systems around the world on July 19, Delta Airlines bore the brunt of the impact. The airline faced a prolonged recovery period that lasted over five days, during which approximately 7,000 mainline and regional flights were canceled, disrupting the travel plans of 1.3

Elliott Investment Management has recently made public the names of 10 individuals that they are looking to nominate to Southwest Airlines’ board of directors. This move has intensified their call for changes within the senior management of Southwest Airlines, bringing them one step closer to the proxy battle they have been threatening. The response from

When considering group travel as a travel advisor, one important aspect to evaluate is the size of the group that the advisor and the ship can effectively manage. For example, in a case study provided by Freed, she is taking a group of her neighbors on a cruise with Royal’s sister brand Silversea. In this