When Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed in 2019, killing all 149 passengers and 8 crew members onboard, the response was swift and overwhelming: the 737 MAX was grounded worldwide. Yet in the U.S. we reach the same death toll...
Trump Doubles Down On Buying Spirit Airlines. The Market Already Rejected It
President Trump says the government should just buy Spirit Airlines, sell it later for a profit, and call that good stewardship. That is not how any of this works. Trump Digs In, Says Government Should Buy Spirit Airlines. What...
World’s Most Powerful Flight Attendant Now “Praying” Trump Saves Spirit Airlines
Sara Nelson aligning herself with Donald Trump to save Spirit Airlines tells us something: when labor jobs are on the line, all political bets are off. Sara Nelson Is Now “Praying” For Trump To Save Spirit Airlines Sara...
Trump Administration Prepares $500 Million Spirit Airlines Bailout That Looks Illegal And Leaves Taxpayers On The Hook
The Trump administration is reportedly working on a deal to provide Spirit Airlines with up to $500 million in government-backed financing, in exchange for warrants that could give the U.S. government a significant ownership stake in the carrier. Folks,...
Trump Floats Bailout For Bankrupt Spirit Airlines And Hopes For A Buyer
With new comments from President Donald Trump suggesting openess to a bailout, Spirit Airlines is now at the center of an uncomfortable question: should the government step in to save it? Trump Floats Government Help For Spirit Airlines As...
Senators Warn United-American Merger Would Create “Industry Behemoth”
A bipartisan pair of senators is raising alarm bells over even the idea of a United Airlines and American Airlines merger. Senators Warn United And American Against Merger, Cite Higher Prices And Fewer Choices A new bipartisan letter from...
FBI Arrests Alleged Iran Arms Broker At LAX While She Tries To Flee Country On Turkish Airlines
Federal prosecutors say a Southern California woman was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) while trying to board a flight to Turkey after allegedly brokering Iranian weapons sales to Sudan. Woman Arrested At LAX In Alleged Iran-To-Sudan Arms...
Sean Duffy’s Claim That Higher Jet Fuel Prices Could Ultimately Lower Airfare Is Nonsense
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is trying to put a positive spin on rising jet fuel prices. The problem is that his argument does not hold up. Higher costs do not magically lead to lower prices. Sean Duffy Claims Higher...
American Airlines Rejects United Merger, Praises Trump, Signals Bigger Shakeup
American Airlines has rejected the idea of a merger with United Airlines, but its carefully worded statement leaves open the potential of consolidation in a different way. American Airlines Rejects United Merger, But Leaves The Door Open For Something...
Lufthansa Slashes A340 And 747 Fleet, Outsources Flying As Labor Fight Intensifies
Lufthansa just made a series of fleet and structural moves that, on the surface, look like logical cost-cutting in the face of high oil prices. But taken together, they reveal something much bigger: a carrier trying to fundamentally reshape...
Airline Says Pay More AFTER You Book Or You Can’t Fly…Is That Even Legal?
Airlines are always looking for new ways to boost revenue, but the latest move by Spanish budget carrier Volotea is quite unorthodox…and likely illegal. Spanish Airline Volotea Adds Fuel Surcharge After Booking…Fair Or Illegal? Spanish low-cost carrier Volotea is...
Ryanair Sends Unruly Passenger To Jail After He Forces Go-Around On Landing
Airlines talk a lot about “not tolerating” unruly passengers, but Ryanair is matching tough rhetoric with tough action. Ryanair’s War On Unruly Passengers Just Landed Someone In Jail A disruptive passenger who caused chaos onboard a Ryanair flight has...
“Trump Loves To See Big Deals Happen” As Administration Signals Openness To Airline Mergers
I sense a growing fever pitch for consolidation in the U.S. airline industry, and now a key member of the Trump administration is signaling openness to it. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy Signals Openness To Airline Mergers, Says “Trump Loves...
Trump Administration Floats Pulling Customs From Major Airports In Sanctuary Cities, Threatening To Shut Down International Flights
The Trump administration’s new Department of Homeland Security Secretary has floated the idea of pulling customs officers from airports in so-called sanctuary cities, effectively shutting them down to international traffic. While this is simply the latest unserious idea from...
As TSA Officers Languish, Friends And Family Of DHS Officials Rake In Millions Of Dollars In No-Bid Contracts
I’ve shied away from commenting on inherently divisive political matters because it is not good for the business model, but I’m making an exception here. As Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers continue to work without full pay, a story...
ICE Agents May Remain At Airports Even After TSA Workers Are Paid
Even as TSA workers are finally set to be paid again, the presence of ICE agents at U.S. airports may not be going away. ICE Agents May Stay At Airports Even After TSA Workers Are Paid Even as the...
Trump Declares Airport Chaos A National Emergency, Moves To Pay TSA Workers Without Congress
Yesterday I wrote about President Donald Trump’s plan to pay TSA workers using existing funds as airport chaos spirals out of control. Today, we have more clarity on how he intends to do it…and more questions about the legal...
Trump Moves To Pay TSA Workers After Weeks Of Chaos, Using Funds That Were Always There
After weeks of spiraling airport lines, unpaid workers, and political brinkmanship, President Donald Trump says he will step in and pay TSA agents directly. Trump Moves To Pay TSA Workers Using Existing Funds As Airport Chaos Exposes Washington Dysfunction...
ICE Agents Deploy To U.S. Airports Today As TSA Crisis Deepens
The Trump administration is taking a dramatic step to deal with worsening airport security lines across the United States: deploying Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports. First stop: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. No, this isn’t a joke....
Members Of Congress Caught Skipping TSA Lines During Shutdown Chaos
As travelers across the country endure long security lines and understaffed checkpoints, Congress has found itself at the center of a growing controversy over special treatment at airports. Congress Scrambles To End TSA Privileges…After Getting Caught Using Them A...
