This is the first in a three-part series that talks about flying airliners and some of the challenges this pilot sees for the profession. In Part 1 we’ll discuss ups and downs of being a commercial pilot. In part...
Context Matters: Did Biden Actually Say Airlines Charging Extra For Legroom Is Racist?
President Biden made headlines for his latest gaffe, suggesting that airlines that charge extra for additional legroom are racist. But text outside of context is simply a pretext for misunderstanding. I’m going to give the President the benefit of...
New Airline Consumer Protections Proposed By DOT – Helpful Or Harmful?
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has proposed new consumer protections for airline customers that seek to encourage transparency in terms of pricing. Are such protections necessary or a step too far? DOT Proposes Additional Airline Consumer Protections Under...
Analysis: United Airlines’ Smart Yet Unreasonable Chess Move At JFK Airport
Earlier today, I wrote about United’s ultimatum at New York JFK: give us more slots or we will pull out. It’s a gutsy demand and not entirely reasonable, but represents a shrewd chess move with little downside. Analysis –...
Gulf Carriers Solve Practical Problem For U.S. Airlines
If you wonder why U.S. airlines are cozying up to Gulf carriers, it is helpful to look to Russia, the War in Ukraine, and the economics of operating a worldwide route network under a new set of constraints that...
Shrewd Move: United Airlines Dumps Air Wisconsin
Make no mistake, the decision by United Airlines to terminate its regional contract with Air Wisconsin was deliberate, strategic, and will ultimately serve the long-term growth goals of the carrier. Why United Airlines Dumped Air Wisconsin And Why American...
Emirates And London Heathrow Reach “Compromise” On Passenger Cap
Emirates and London Heathrow Airport have reached a facing-saving “compromise” on what became a high-stakes game of chicken with each side blaming the other for a summer of delays and cancellations. Emirates + London Heathrow Save Face After Row...
Implications Of New Air Canada – Emirates Partnership
Air Canada and Emirates announced a new partnership which could eventually make Aeroplan even more valuable. But we’re not there yet. Let’s breakdown the news and the implications of this new relationship. Air Canada + Emirates Form New Partnership...
Analysis: Why Did Scandinavian Airlines Fail?
Despite government bailouts during the pandemic and a strong surge of demand in recent months, SAS recently collapsed, seeking bankruptcy protection in the USA and claiming its business model was broken. What really led SAS to fail? Why Did...
American Airlines Is Retreating Again At LAX
It’s a familiar problem at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): with intense competition, an airline finds profit margins thin, making the carrier more likely to seek routes with higher margins. The latest cutback comes from American Airlines, with a...
A Battle For Control On Air France 11
Our resident captain, 121pilot, brings us expert analysis on the recent Air France 11 incident, which we first covered here. What Really Happened Onboard Air France 11? As regular readers of Live and Let’s Fly will recall, on April...
Delta Air Lines’ New Boarding Pay Will Greatly Benefit Junior Flight Attendants
In a move that it hopes will deter flight attendants from unionizing, Delta Air Lines will pay flight attendants during boarding, a revolutionary change in the U.S. aviation industry that will lead to pay bumps, particularly for junior flight...
Why I Think The Mask Mandate On Airplanes Will Be Extended Again
Sadly, I now predict the mask mandate will be extended on airplanes at least once more…and I have public polling, recent statements from government officials, and the city of Philadelphia to demonstrate why I’ve arrived at this point. Mask...
JetBlue CEO Speciously Defends Merger With Spirit Airlines
JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes has made an impassioned argument that we do not have to sacrifice great service for low fares. But nothing in life is free and his comments concerning a proposed JetBlue – Spirit Airlines merger fail...
Before Buying Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Should Get Its Own House In Order
The strange move by JetBlue to bid for Spirit Airlines yesterday caught most by surprise, and for good reason: the merger makes little sense on so many levels. Importantly, JetBlue should get its own house in order before it...
The Problems For Russian Airlines Are Just Beginning
With harsh sanctions continuing and no end in sight to the quagmire in Ukraine, Russian airlines are preparing to deploy cannibalistic tactics in order to survive the year. Russian Airlines Prepare To Cannibalize Spare Parts – Let The Problems...
Will U.S. Carriers Add Fuel Surcharges To Award Redemptions?
Let me put it this way: if they can get away with it, U.S. airlines will certainly tack on fuel surcharges to award redemptions. But it likely won’t be in same manner as British Airways and Emirates. Facing Higher...
Will The The Mask Mandate On Airplanes Be Extended?
As COVID-19 numbers continue to drop and masking requirements are lifted in even more “blue” states, will the federal mask mandate on airplanes and other modes of transportation expire on March 18, 2022? Will U.S. Mask Mandate Be Extended...
Airlines Actually Fear FAA, Not 5G
As airlines warn of devastating consequences over an expanded 5G network set to rollout soon, their real fear is not over the new wireless technology, but how the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is addressing it. Airlines Fear FAA...
World’s Safest Airlines In 2022? I’m Skeptical Of The List…
AirlineRatings.com has published its list of the 20 safest airlines in 2022 and media outlets around the world have run with it, but I’m not running with it. I can’t even figure it out… I’m Not Convinced About World’s...
