United Airlines is investing in San Francisco (SFO) with 20% more flying in 2025 than in 2024 and a terminal refresh program that will further reinforce United’s dominance at its West Coast hub, with hopes of creating a fortress....
Insane: American Airlines Forbids Agents From Assisting With Standby

If American Airlines really wants to be a premium carrier, it needs to stop alienating passengers with ridiculous standby policies that could not be more customer-unfriendly. Come on AA, this is such a low-hanging fruit… A Silly Rule American...
Free Checked + Carry-On Bags On Frontier: An Unsustainable Business Model

I applaud Frontier Airlines for its clever free baggage promotion to woo disgruntled Southwest Airlines flyers, but it seems to turn the “ultra-low-cost” carrier’s business model upside down. Teasing a “permanent” change to allow free bags would require a...
Scott Kirby’s Dismissal Of A New “Premium” American Airlines Is Very Personal

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby does not think there is room in the USA for a third “premium” airline, dismissing the aspirations of American Airlines to join Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in putting more emphasis on the...
United Airlines CEO Explains Why Southwest Airlines Lost its Mojo

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby believes that recent changes at Southwest Airlines may be a necessary growing pain for the carrier, but will end up pulling more business from Southwest as it loses another structural advantage it enjoyed over...
Delta Air Lines Cuts Profit Forecast By 50-70%, Blames Eroding Consumer Confidence + Economic Uncertainty

Shares prices of Delta Air Lines are tanking after the Atlanta-based carrier sharply revised its profit forecast downward, blaming eroding consumer confidence and growing economic uncertainty over the US economy. Delta Air Lines Cuts Profit Forecast Citing Diminished Domestic...
Spirit Airlines Reports Bleak 2024 Financial Results

As Spirit Airlines emerges from bankruptcy protection, it reported its 2024 financial results this week and the numbers are bleak, suggesting a near-insurmountable hole the budget carrier must quickly climb out of. Can the carrier find a way forward?...
Southwest Airlines Introduces Basic Economy Fares…By Another Name

Without notice, Southwest Airlines massively devalued earnings on its most reasonable Wanna Get Away fares, effectively introducing basic economy fares by another name. Southwest Airlines Guts Earnings On Wanna Get Away Fares The value proposition of Rapid Rewards, the...
What Is Really Going On At Southwest Airlines?

Southwest Airlines is preparing to layoff 1,750 employees as part of its latest effort to cut costs and juice profits. But what is really going on at Southwest? Is Elliott Investment Management maliciously pulling the strings or are these...
Make American Airlines Great Again: A Five-Point Blueprint

American Airlines has finally awakened and realized that it will continue to fall behind Delta Air Lines and United Airlines unless it offers a more premium experience for its passengers. Here’s how it can be done. 5 Ways American...
United Airlines Fuels More Speculation After “Denial” Of Merger Talks With JetBlue

United Airlines’ denial of merger talks with JetBlue won’t do much to silence rumors that United is actively considering the acquisition of JetBlue. Is United Airlines Considering A Merger Or Acquisition Of JetBlue? Chatter about a JetBlue – United...
Irregularities Emerge In Aftermath Of American Airlines 5342 Crash

As investigators begin to put the pieces of the puzzle together concerning the collision of an Army Black Hawk helicopter with an American Airlines regional jet, there are several key details that have emerged that make it impossible to...
Senate Confirms Sean Duffy, Trump’s Pick For Secretary Of Transportation

UPDATE: Sean Duffy has been confirmed by a 77-22 Senate vote, with many Democrats voting against him after he signaled support for President Trump’s freeze on federal funding (which was rolled back today). He has already been sworn in:...
United Airlines Builds A Moat…

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby believes United has built a “competitive moat” around its rivals. The imagery of a ring of water around the carrier may not be precise, but Kirby is quite right to point out that structural...
Air Canada Pinpoints The Untapped Potential Of Aeroplan

Air Canada Executive Vice President Mark Nasr understands loyalty and that a primary goal of airline loyalty programs should be to push people to fly the associated airline…a straightforward but increasingly minority position in the frequent flyer world. Air...
American Airlines CEO Laments, “It Has Never Been Harder To Operate An Airline”

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom lamented this morning how difficult it is to run an airline like AA. But to blame AA’s problems on the FAA, supply chains, and Boeing fails to fully account for why American continues to...
End Of An Era: United Airlines Makes It Easier For Me To Give Up 1K Status, Embrace Free Agency

The 2025 changes announced to United MileagePlus today confirm my already-made decision to abandon the hamster wheel of frequent flyer elite status. I’m sad, but somewhat relieved! The End Of My Era As A United Premier 1K Flyer Today,...
Under Pressure From “Wolf Of Wall Street,” Southwest Airlines Announces Early Retirement Of Executive Chairman, Shuffles Board

Under pressure from Elliott Investment Management, Southwest Airlines announced its Executive Chairman will retire early and that it will place six “independent” members on its Board of Directors. Southwest Airlines Announces Six New Board Members, Early Departure Of Bob...
Frontier Revisits Merger With Spirit

I’m pleased to see that Frontier Airlines is again exploring a merger with Spirit Airlines that could create a more powerful, nationwide budget carrier. Report: Frontier And Spirit In Mrrger Talks Once Again Even as Spirit Airlines explores bankruptcy,...
United Airlines CEO Discusses The “Profitable” Future Of MileagePlus

Top leaders at United Airlines have foreshadowed a future of MileagePlus marked by accelerating profit. What does the future of MileagePlus look like for travelers? United Airlines CEO, COO On The Future Of MileagePlus At yesterday’s Q3 earning call...