JetBlue-Spirit ruling doesn’t spell doom for Alaska-Hawaiian merger

Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines planes takeoff at the same time from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, California, United States on June 21, 2023. Tayfun Coskun | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images President Joe Biden’s Justice Department has successfully had two airline linkups halted in court in recent months. That doesn’t necessarily spell … Read more

Spirit could slash fares, restructure after failed JetBlue takeover

A JetBlue airliner lands past a Spirit Airlines jet on taxi way at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport on Monday, April 25, 2022. Joe Cavaretta | Sun Sentinel | Getty Images Spirit Airlines is on shaky footing after JetBlue Airways‘ proposed $3.8 billion takeover of the budget carrier was blocked by a federal judge this … Read more

Alaska, Japan airline incidents highlight importance of safety demonstrations

A display showing the ‘fasten your seatbelt’ sign and the ‘no smoking’ sign illuminated on board an aircraft. Jeff Overs | BBC News & Current Affairs | Getty Images You trudge down the aisle to your seat. You double- and triple-check that you’ve arrived at the right row. You heave your luggage into the overhead … Read more

Flights canceled, delayed as weather, Max 9 grounding disrupt travel

An Embraer E175LR passengers aircraft of American Eagles airlines (C) taxxing before take-off to Pittsburg is seen at La Guardia Airport on January 9, 2024. Charly Triballeau | Afp | Getty Images Airlines canceled about 2,000 U.S. flights Friday as they grapple with winter weather and the grounding of Boeing 737 Max 9 planes.  Storms … Read more

Airline stocks tumble after Delta trims profit forecast

A Delta Airlines Boeing 737-700 seen lining up before departure at Princess Juliana airport. Fabrizio Gandolfo | Lightrocket | Getty Images Delta Air Lines shares slipped about 7% Friday after the company trimmed its 2024 earnings forecast.  Delta forecast full-year earnings per share of $6 to $7, below its previous estimate of more than $7 … Read more

American Airlines frequent flyer changes for 2024

An American Airlines Airbus 321 sits at the gate at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia, on July 23, 2023. Daniel Slim | AFP | Getty Images First things first: American Airlines isn’t changing the requirements to earn elite status at the airline in the coming earning year. Those thresholds are typically … Read more

Thanksgiving air travel set for records in test for airlines

Travelers wait in line to check in for their flights at a Delta Airlines ticket counter at Orlando International Airport during the busy Christmas holiday season on December 28, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. Paul Hennessy | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Airlines expect record travel demand this Thanksgiving. Executives say they’re prepared for the hordes. … Read more

Airlines shave minutes off flight times with faster boarding, new tech

Passengers make their way through the terminal as they travel ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday at Washington Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, on Nov. 22, 2023. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters In air travel, minutes matter. A few moments could be the difference between making and missing a connection for passengers — and could avoid … Read more

Southwest, pilots union near a preliminary labor deal

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 aircraft lands at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, May 7, 2023. Nicolas Economou | Nurphoto | Getty Images Southwest Airlines and its pilots union are closing in on a new contract that would raise pay for the carrier’s more than 11,000 aviators and end months of contentious … Read more

Alaska Airlines to acquire Hawaiian Airlines in $1.9 billion deal

Alaska Air Group has agreed to buy rival Hawaiian Airlines in a $1.9 billion deal, setting up another potential regulatory battle in the second proposed airline merger in less than two years. Alaska would pay $18 a share for Hawaiian and would take on $900 million of its debt, the companies said Sunday. Shares of … Read more