Imagine a country where airlines were seen as a public utility, not merely an engine for profit. A body of civil servants determined what routes each airline would operate, how much they would charge, and limited any new entrants...
Free Flights On Delta Air Lines…For Medical Volunteers
Delta has found one way to turn lemons into lemonade when it comes to dismal load factors: transport critical healthcare workers for free. As detailed on Delta’s website, medical volunteers can book round-trip travel on Delta for free to:...
Airline Unemployment Has a Curve Too
The world just learned about the importance of flattening the curve of coronavirus, but airline unemployment has a curve too and we need to flatten that as well. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit...
Why We Had To Bail Out The Airlines, Even Though It’s Wrong
As a devout capitalist, it pains me to say it, but it has to be done. Airline bailouts are immoral but right for this specific situation. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please...
Good News: Germany’s Luftwaffe Airlifting Patients From Italy
Just when you needed some good news in the world, Germany has utilized a Luftwaffe flying hospital to move patients out of Italy for care. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click...
United Airlines Drastically Reduces Service Onboard
I was wondering what took United so long. The carrier has finally matched the cutbacks to onboard product introduced by American and Delta during a time of heightened tension over COVID-19. United Airlines “Streamlines” Beverage + Meal Service Onboard In...
Payback: China Bans Foreigners And Limits Flights
For China, payback is sweet…foreigners are now banned, flights limited, and gloating abounds. I say “payback” because China was initially livid over government bans that limited its own citizens but has now turned the tables. China Bans Foreigners From...
American Airlines Flight Attendant Dies From Coronavirus
Paul Frishkorn, a well-loved and well-respected Philadelphia-based flight attendant for American Airlines, has died due to complications arising from COVID-19. Up until his final days, Frishkorn served as both a flight attendant and union representative. In that latter role,...
747-400 Flies Nonstop From Hawaii To Germany
A charter flight dispatched to rescue stranded cruise passengers has returned to Europe after a long nonstop flight from Hawaii to Germany. Norwegian Jewel, a massive 15-year-old cruise ship, had about 2,000 guests and 1,000 crewmembers onboard when it...
United Airlines Further Reduces Domestic Schedule
As demand continues to plummet, United will further scale back its domestic schedule by reducing frequencies on several routes, including once busy hub-to-hub routes. Last week, United announced it would be reducing domestic U.S. and transborder Canadian flights by...
Lufthansa Converts Passenger Aircraft Into Cargo Plane For “Special Mission”
A very unique Lufthansa Airbus A330-300 landed in Frankfurt yesterday afternoon, not so much because of the aircraft itself, but because of what was inside. Lufthansa, like most airlines around the world, is facing dramatically reduced customer demand for...
Coronavirus Kills United Airlines Newark Employee, Others Test Positive
There is a story behind the death of every man and woman. Those stories tend to get buried as death tolls quickly mount. Sadly, COVID-19 has claimed the life of a United Airlines ramp worker in Newark. It is...
Delta Credit Rating Cut to “Junk” Status By S&P
Once-mighty Delta Air Lines has gone from the envy of the airline world to a company whose credit rating was just downgraded to junk status. S&P Global Ratings has lowered Delta’s long-term rating from BBB- to BB. Translation: it’s...
Luxury Hotel Chain Offering “Quarantine” Packages…
Would you be more likely to splurge for a luxury hotel room if it came with a COVID-19 test kit, nurse on duty, and medical insurance? If so, Swiss luxury hotel chain Le Bijou may be just the place...
White House, Senate Agree To Stimulus Package That Will Include Relief For Airlines, Hotels
Senate leaders and White House officials just emerged from a marathon closed-door negotiation session with smiles on their faces. Both sides now fundamentally agree on a $2 trillion stimulus package aimed at boosting the American economy. Among the largesse...
Florida Quarantining New York Travelers: More Domestic Flight Restrictions Coming?
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that all airline passengers arriving from the New York-area will face a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Are more domestic flight restrictions around the corner? DeSantis announced the ban Monday evening, warning that, “I would...
American Airlines Backs Downs On Mask Ban
American Airlines (wisely) backed down on its ban on masks for flight attendants, now allowing them to wear masks onboard and in airports if they so choose. If the U.S. government is to believed (and that’s sadly not a...
Reversal: United Reinstates Longhaul International Flights
Earlier today I reported that United would slash all of its longhaul service in April, leaving only international service to a few cities in Mexico. Already, United has reversed that decision and reinstated a number of longhaul flights. United...
United Airlines Will Reduce International Schedule 95% In April, Cut All Longhaul Service
Blaming depressed demand and government restrictions, United Airlines will cut 95% of international travel in April, leaving service to only a handful of cities in Mexico. United Airlines Suspends All Transatlantic Service United is suspending all service to Europe,...
Even Emirates May Ground A380 Fleet
When it comes to Airbus A380 operators, there are many airlines. Then there is Emirates, the outlier with over 100 in its fleet. But even Emirates is mulling the grounding of its A380s. Already, we’ve seen Lufthansa, Air France,...
