As much as I love reviewing first class products, I think business class reviews tend to be more helpful to more readers. Here’s a list of 10 airlines I hope to review this year in business class, but I’m open to suggestion. Earlier this month I wrote a piece entitled, 10 Flights I Look Forward […]
United’s Loss Is Emirates’ Gain
Emirates is considering restarting a Fifth Freedom route between Hamburg, Germany and New York JFK. It’s a bold move in the “America First” era, but hardly a route so odd that it merits scorn. Without formal announcement, United suspended service to Hamburg last autumn. After serving Hamburg year-around for several years from Newark via a 757-200, […]
American, Delta, United Jostle At LAX, Billboard Style
It’s a great time to fly out of Los Angeles because carriers, flush with profit, are re-investing in the airport. As I walked down Sepulveda Blvd and onto the aircraft grounds last week, I noticed three billboards. Let’s have a look: Billboard #1 – American Airlines What’s next at LAX? Reimagining your travel experience. American […]
United Orders Additional 737 + 777 Aircraft
Buried in the news of United’s excellent financials was a new Boeing aircraft order. As the airline continues to expand, United has placed a firm order for 24 additional 737 MAX aircraft and four additional 777-3o0ER. The deal was actually signed last month, but only made public during the earnings calls earlier this week. This […]
United Reports Healthy 2018 Earnings, Rosy Outlook For 2019
United reported healthy fourth quarter earnings and an optimistic outlook on 2019, sending shares soaring in after hours trading. Let’s do the numbers first. Feel free to skip over this portion if you want to find out what these numbers means. Fourth-quarter net income of $462 million, diluted earnings per share of $1.70, pre-tax earnings […]
How United Reclaimed Its Rank As World’s #2 Airline
By at least one measure, United has surpassed Delta as world’s second largest airline. Under Scott Kirby’s leadership, United has been in expansion mode for the last year. Denver is expanding. Houston is expanding. Chicago is expanding. In fact, there’s growth at each hub and a concerted effort to re-capture domestic market share ceded during […]
Delta’s Nationalist Ambitions Hurt American Airlines
Delta Air Lines has been the most vocal US Carrier in regards to the “Middle East 3” expansion in the North American market. While Delta claims to defend jobs for American citizens, its double-edged sword cuts both ME3 and their lobbying partner, American Airlines. For Delta, it’s win-win. If you are considering booking travel or signing up for […]
United Announces 11 New Routes From Four Hubs
United Airlines will add 11 additional domestic/Canadian routes next summer on top of the recently announced addition of 22 new domestic and four international routes. Focusing on growth in Chicago O’Hare, Houston, Los Angeles, and Washington Dulles, the routes below will be begin in June 2019 unless otherwise noted. Chicago to Colorado, Florida, Oregon and […]
Analyzing United’s “Historic” Expansion At SFO
United Airlines will add four new international routes at San Francisco, double service to one Asian destination, and make two Pacific destinations year-around. In a highly-anticipated press conference, United CEO Oscar Munoz announced the following new service from SFO to: Amsterdam (AMS) [yep, previously announced] Melbourne (MEL) New Delhi (DEL) Toronto (YYZ) In addition, the carrier […]
United Expands Basic Economy To Intercontinental Flights, But Loosens Up Rules
United Airlines is rolling out Basic Economy fares on intercontinental flights, but also loosening some restrictions. Yesterday, United introduced trans-Atlantic Basic Economy fare on select routes. These vary in three key ways from domestic and shorthaul Basic Economy tickets: Customers will be allowed one full-sized carry-on bag and one personal item on board, and will […]
Oscar Munoz Offers Insight On United’s 30% Profit Surge
After reporting a 30% increase in profit even with a higher fuel bill, United Airlines finds itself in a strong position. United’s stock is up 24% this year. Meanwhile, Delta has dropped 5% and American has dropped 36%. Although critics were skeptical of President Scott Kirby’s domestic capacity expansion, it seems to be working. A […]
United Airlines Adds 22 New Routes, Cuts Three Of My Favorites
United Airlines is adding 22 new domestic routes in 2019 as it continues its robust domestic expansion. At the same time, it is retreating from a pair of routes from Los Angeles that face fierce competition plus a surprising international route. I’ve written before about United’s push to recapture its “natural share” of the domestic market. […]
United Threatens To Abandon Newark Hub
United Airlines has threatened to abandon its Newark hub if New Jersey lawmakers follow through on a proposed tax increase at Liberty International Airport that would only affect United. Currently, New Jersey only taxes the fuel on a plane burned during taxi and takeoff. Lawmakers are now considering taxing all fuel…but only for United Airlines. […]
United Considers Significant Expansion To Washington Dulles Hub
United Airlines is considering up to a 50% increase in its number of flights at Washington Dulles. Speaking at the Boyd Group International Aviation Forecast Summit in Denver, United President Scott Kirby hinted at the expansion: Today we have a four-bank structure at Dulles. The team is actually evaluating a six-bank structure that would create […]
United Teases Premium Service Between Los Angeles And Boston
United is testing out lie-flat beds for a couple months on flights between Los Angeles and Boston. United Airlines operates premium transcontinental service routes between three city pairs: Los Angeles ⇄ Newark San Francisco ⇄ Newark Boston ⇄ San Francisco > Read More: Premium Transcontinental Service on United: Free Hot Meals in EconomyPlus + Boston Expansion Logically, it would make […]
Southwest Challenges American, Delta and United at Hollywood Burbank Airport
As the economy continues to grow and air travel picks up, one of LA’s smaller airports is witnessing a renaissance. While many carriers are adding capacity at Hollywood Burbank Airport, one airline is adding capacity to a tactical assortment of cities. Traffic is way up at Burbank Airport, formerly known as Bob Hope Airport. United […]
United Shifting Strategy at Newark + Washington Hubs
United Airlines is shifting strategy at Newark Liberty and Washington Dulles, with big plans to concentrate connecting traffic at Dulles and make Newark “almost entirely” mainline. Let’s first turn to Domestic Network VP Ankit Gupta. His strategy is simple: Dulles has more capacity and room for growth, therefore Dulles should focus on connecting traffic: Newark capacity […]
JetBlue Considers Los Angeles Expansion
JetBlue is looking beyond Long Beach and Los Angeles, hinting that it will expand services at another Los Angeles-area airport. Currently, JetBlue offers transcontinental service from Los Angeles to five cities and has a larger network out of Long Beach, serving destinations around the country. But the relationship with Long Beach Airport has soured. LGB […]
United Pilots Angry at Kirby’s Push for Regional Jet Expansion
United Airlines’ President Scott Kirby shocked investors by proclaiming United would increase domestic capacity by up to 6% this year and next. Now he’s shocked pilots by arguing this is “entirely dependent” on their authorization of more outsourced regional jets. As you can imagine, that did not go over to well. The scope clause, an agreement […]
United Chasing The Wrong Incremental Spending
As the year comes to a close, some travelers have already re-qualified for status for the year while others find themselves coming up short. In the past, American, United and Delta have offer incentives to drive business and improve margins in the fourth quarter, but this year is different. All three appear to be chasing […]
